County supes call for review of CYA wards County supes call for review of CYA wards (March 12, 2004)

Concern over state juvenile delinquent agency spreads

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors directed officials last week to provide a status report on the current number of Santa Clara County wards committed to the California Youth Authority.

The board asked that the report include the offense categories and all associated costs; a description of the new process for reviewing potential CYA commitments instituted by the Probation Department and Juvenile Delinquency Court; an outline of the scope of work for the development of short- and long-term plans to increase existing local and regional alternatives to CYA; and a look into the possible phasing out of the California Youth Authority by the county.

The issue came about after recent reports by Attorney General Bill Lockyer describing the facilities operated by the CYA as "violent, inhumane and lacking rehabilitation services.''

While the state legislature grapples with the future of the California Youth Authority, counties and courts throughout the state have begun to examine and change local practices of committing youthful offenders to the CYA.

Currently, 150 wards from Santa Clara County are housed in the CYA, county officials found. In fiscal year 2003, more than $1 million was spent in the Support and Care for Persons account, another $1 million-plus on CYA placements and more than $100,000 for CYA alternative placements. The budgeted allocation for the current fiscal year is only about $1.5 million.

"We know that the Probation Department and Juvenile Delinquency Court have instituted a new high-level review of cases where there are recommendations for committing youth to CYA,'' said Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, chair of the Public Safety and Justice Committee.

"This is a step in the right direction, however, the bigger issues are what are our options and how we can expand them.''

Throughout the Juvenile Detention Reform process, discussions have taken place among members of the juvenile justice system and its partners about the needs of youthful offenders, both violent and nonviolent, and whether the current function and design of the state's two rehabilitation facilities meet those needs.

As the juvenile justice system and its partners continue to examine the current placement options for youthful offender, the needs of CYA-bound offenders must be taken into consideration, the board determined.

During a recent visit to a Stockton-area youth correctional facility, Supervisor Jim Beall, chair of the Children and Families Commission, learned that many services for youth had been reduced or eliminated due to budget cuts.

"It's impossible for the CYA to provide appropriate services without the necessary resources,'' Beall said.

"However, the reports show that the staff practices go beyond a basic resource issue. If these reports are correct, we need to find alternatives for the Santa Clara County youth currently housed at CYA.''

-- Bay City News

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