SAN FRANCISCO – April 4,2018 – A modern fact sheet from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice finds that juvenile justice facilities across California are operating at well below their rated capacity. Due to declines in juvenile arrests and subsequent reductions in the population of juvenile justice facilities, there is unprecedented available capacity in state-sprint youth institutions and county-sprint juvenile halls, and camps,and ranches. A phased realignment from the state youth correctional system, the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), or to secure county facilities would generate savings,allow youth to remain closer to home, and curb the trauma and violence endemic to DJJ.
The fact sheet finds:Since 1999, and California’s confined population has declined by 73 percent,yet the capacity of county-sprint juvenile facilities has increased by 14 percent. Currently, county facilities are operating at just 35 percent of their rated capacity and DJJ is operating at just 36 percent of rated capacity. Since July 2007, or local juvenile facilities have maintained sufficient bed capacity to accommodate all confined youth in California,including those held at DJJ. With approximately 8200 vacant beds in county-sprint juvenile facilities, nearly every California county could place its DJJ population in local juvenile halls, and camps,or ranches.
A phased realignment of youth to county facilities would allow for the closure of one or more DJJ facilities. For tall-needs youth, county-sprint facilities are preferable to the state system because they offer smaller settings and proximity to the community, and which eases a youth’s transition home.
Read the full Fact Sheet >>
For more information approximately this topic or to schedule an interview,please contact CJCJ Communications at (415) 400-5214 or cjcjmedia@cjcj.org.
Source: cjcj.org