 |
Corrections and Rehabilitation
Juvenile Offender Population Rehabilitation and Management
Before the 2005 Youth and Adult Correctional Agency consolidation, the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) was known as the California Youth Authority (CYA). The CYA was created by law in 1941 and began operating "reform schools" in 1943, when the Governor transferred management of three state reformatories, 1,080 wards in institutions and 1,625 wards on parole to the CYA for the purpose of providing institutional training and parole supervision for juvenile and young adult offenders. By June 1996, the CYA had reached an institution population high of 10,114 and parole population high of 6,249. Since that time, due to legislation that increased the cost for locals to house wards in state institutions and efforts to enhance local services, the DJJ's population has steadily declined.
For example, local juvenile justice services have been improved through efforts such as the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA). The JJCPA involves a partnership between the state of California, 56 counties and more than 200 community-based organizations. Local officials and stakeholders determine where to direct resources through an interagency planning process; the state appropriates funds to counties on a per capita basis; and community-based organizations play a critical role in delivering services. It is a partnership that recognizes the value of local discretion in addressing the problem of juvenile crime in our communities. Data collected by counties clearly indicates that JJCPA programs continue to curb juvenile crime and delinquency in California.
As a result of programs like the JJCPA and the increased costs to locals, counties have consistently sent fewer juvenile offenders to the DJJ over the last decade, a trend that is projected to continue. By June 30, 2006, DJJ's institution population had decreased to 2,887 (a 71-percent drop from June 1996) and its parole population had decreased to 3,162 (a 49-percent drop from June 1996). Currently, less than one percent of juveniles arrested in California end up in DJJ facilities. The rest are retained at the local level.
In 2005-06, the DJJ began implementing reforms, as stipulated by the Farrell consent decree, in areas of mental health, sex behavior, disability, education, medical care, and safety and welfare. The Farrell reforms are intended to enhance the state's juvenile justice services and focus on the rehabilitation of the state's juvenile offender population. Consistent with enhancing the services it provides, the DJJ has reevaluated its mission in an effort to determine where juvenile offenders would best be served in their rehabilitation.
Beginning September 1, 2007, the DJJ will no longer accept juvenile court commitments or parole violators, except those convicted of violent, serious, or sex offenses. The non-serious, non-violent juvenile offenders will now be the responsibility of local jurisdictions, where they can benefit from programs within their communities and be closer to potential support networks.
The Budget includes $24 million General Fund, growing to a total of $92 million by 2009-10, in Juvenile Offender Block Grant funding that will provide counties with resources to provide services to juvenile offenders who will no longer be housed in DJJ facilities or supervised by the Division of Juvenile Parole Operations (DJPO). This is based on approximately 700 juvenile offenders being housed or supervised on parole at the county level, growing to approximately 1,300 by 2009-10.
Due to the reduction of juvenile offenders housed in DJJ facilities and supervised by the DJPO and the associated costs of housing and supervising these juveniles, there will be a reduction to the DJJ's operating budget of $25 million, growing to $169 million by 2009-10.
The Budget also includes $100 million in lease-revenue bonds to finance the acquisition, design, renovation, or construction of local juvenile facilities in order to ensure that locals have adequate capacity and program space to house and serve juvenile offenders.
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS for
Corrections and Rehabilitation Back to Top
PRINTABLE BUDGET DOCUMENTS Back to Top
Enacted Budget Summary - Corrections and Rehabilitation (pdf * - 9K) -
Provides the entire Corrections and Rehabilitation Chapter in pdf format.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Back to Top
Enacted Budget Detail - Corrections and Rehabilitation
Displays Enacted Budget Detail information for Corrections and Rehabilitation.
|
pdf* This file requires the latest Adobe Acrobat reader plugin. If you do not have it - click here to download.
