Title
Probation Department recommending the Board receive the Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant Plan pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 1991.
FUNDING: Juvenile Justice Realignment Funds established by Senate Bill 823 (2020).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 30, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 823 (SB 823) directing the closure of the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) effective July 1, 2023, and suspension of case intake as of July 1, 2021. This legislation comes after a troubled and frequently scandalous history of mistreatment of youth at the state-run facilities. As a result, the State has realigned the responsibility for detention, programming, and treatment of court committed youth from the State to county government and provides annual funding to support the new responsibilities. The intent of the legislation is for county probation departments to create a local treatment response for youth who would have otherwise been ordered by the Court to DJJ. This requirement includes secure rehabilitation and programming that meets the specific and individualized needs of each youth. Further intent of the legislation is to ensure that youth are closer to their families and receive age-appropriate treatment that is evidence-based and will improve outcomes of youth and public safety.
Pursuant to SB 823, Counties are eligible to receive a direct allocation of formula-based realignment funding. For El Dorado County, the first year (FY 21-22) allocation is $250,000, which represents the base minimum. In year two, the amount grows to $404,000, and in year three grows to $669,000. Allocation amounts are not programmed beyond year three but growth is anticipated. The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) will also distribute two separate allocations of Youth Programs and Facilities Grants (YPFG) in the form of a competitive grant in the amount of $1 Million for counties pursuing specialized treatment facilities to serve the needs of female youth, youth with serious mental illness and youth who sexually offend (Part A), as well as a non-competitive grant for general facility improvements (Part B). Part B funding in the amount of $4.12 million will be available by formula to all counties who apply and will be based on county juvenile population. El Dorado County will receive a minimum of approximately $45,000. The amount of Part B funding may grow depending on the number of Part A grants awarded.
In order to be eligible for the above-mentioned realignment funding, per Section 1995 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC), the County is required to create a subcommittee of the multi-agency Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC), a body described in WIC Section 749.22. Per WIC 1995(b): “the subcommittee shall be composed of the Chief Probation Officer, as Chair, and one representative each from the District Attorney’s office, the Public Defender’s office, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Mental Health, the County Office of Education or a school district, and a representative from the Court. The subcommittee shall also include no fewer than three community members who shall be defined as individuals who have experience providing community-based youth services, youth justice advocates with expertise and knowledge of the juvenile justice system, or have been directly involved in the juvenile justice system.”
The JJCC Subcommittee must develop a plan describing the facilities, programs, placements, services, supervision, and re-entry strategies that are needed to provide appropriate rehabilitation and supervision services for this realigned population of youth. Per WIC 1995(c)(3), the plan must also include a description of how grant funds will be applied to address each of the following areas of need or development for realigned youth:
(A) Mental health, sex offender treatment, or related behavioral or trauma-based needs.
(B) Support programs or services that promote healthy adolescent development.
(C) Family engagement in programs.
(D) Re-entry, including planning and linkages to support employment, housing, and continuing education.
(E) Evidence-based, promising, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive.
(F) Whether and how the plan will include services or programs for realigned youth that are provided by nongovernmental or community-based providers.
Attached is the Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant Plan created by the JJCC Subcommittee. Per WIC 1991(a), the Board “shall consider” the required Annual Plan in making allocations.
Within the plan, the JJCC sub-committee recognizes the BOS action taken on May 18th to restrict the pursuit of a regional program for youth. Never-the-less, a majority of the committee recommends the provision of a regional service as a primary means of accomplishing the prescribed goals of the juvenile realignment. However, in response to the BOS policy direction, the sub-committee also provides for an alternative to the primary recommendation involving a contract for required services outside of El Dorado County.
ALTERNATIVES
The Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant Annual Plan is required to be delivered to the Board. No alternative actions are available.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See Discussion / Background
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The totality of fiscal impacts is currently unknown. Largely, the County will be impacted based on the number of youth ordered by the Court to a secure track of treatment, which must be either provided by, or secured through, Probation. However, allocations in year one (FY 21-22), two (FY 22-23), and three (FY 23-24) are received directly after each Annual Plan is submitted.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities, Good Governance
CONTACT
Brian Richart, Chief Probation Officer