To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Probation Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Chief Vanessa Fuchs, (707) 565-2731
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Secure Youth Treatment Facility Agreements
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Delegate authority to the Chief Probation Officer to execute Agreements with requesting counties as needed to provide Secure Youth Treatment Facility rehabilitation services to out-of-county youth.
B) Delegate authority to the Chief Probation Officer to keep agreements in effect until mutually terminated and to adjust daily rates annually, if needed, based on actual costs.
end
Executive Summary:
SB823, known as Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Realignment, was signed into law in September 2020. This law directed the phased closure of state-run youth detention facilities, with a commitment of annual funding to counties to serve impacted youth who would have historically been committed to DJJ for serious or violent felonies.
Today’s action is to recommend the Board authorize the Chief Probation Officer to enter into Agreements with counties requesting to house appropriate youth in Sonoma County’s Secure Youth Treatment Facility in Sonoma County’s Juvenile Hall, predicated on acceptance of such youth by Sonoma County. Revenue from this Agreement will recoup the County’s housing and treatment costs associated with referred youth.
Discussion:
DJJ Realignment was signed into law in September 2020 with a commitment of annual funding, and a phased-out closure of state-run youth detention centers. On May 25, 2021, the Probation Department provided a comprehensive report to the Board regarding SB823 and the local plan for developing meaningful treatment for former DJJ youth and their families. The closure of all DJJ facilities occurred July 1, 2023. The intent of SB823 is to:
• Keep system-involved youth connected to their families and communities.
• Ensure youth receive age-appropriate treatment while closer to home.
• For counties to use evidence-based and promising practices and programs that improve outcomes for youth and public safety while also reducing the transfer of youth into the adult system.
• Ensure dispositions are in the least restrictive appropriate environment, reduce and then eliminate racial and ethnic disparities, and reduce the use of confinement in the juvenile justice system by utilizing community-based responses and interventions.
• End placements of justice system-involved youth in out-of-state facilities that do not appropriately address programming, service, safety, and other needs.
The bill transferred responsibility of youths in the juvenile justice system to local jurisdictions, which includes both secure detention and community-based treatment and rehabilitation services. Not all California counties have the resources to provide the treatment and programming that long-term youth require to be successful post-release. On a limited basis, Sonoma County has the capacity and resources to treat and house justice system-involved youth from other counties. Based on the need to prioritize space for Sonoma County youth, Juvenile Hall capacity, and the current level of interest from other counties in sending youth to Sonoma County, Probation expects to house between 6 and 10 out-of-county youth at any given time.
The attached Agreement template has been developed with County Counsel to safely and securely house out-of-county youth, provide effective rehabilitative programs, and maintain connections to support successful integration back to the community following the commitment period. Obligations articulated in the Agreement include requiring the sending county to be actively engaged in crafting an individualized rehabilitation plan, sustaining positive family connections, and making regular contact with the youth committed to the program. Probation calculated the FY 24-25 daily rate of $375 per youth to recover incremental costs of out-of-county youth accepted into the program. Probation will recalculate the daily rate in subsequent fiscal years to ensure accurate cost recovery. Per the terms of the Agreement, this rate covers typical costs associated with housing, medical care, behavioral health treatment, education, and other rehabilitative services. Sending county will bear costs for non-routine medical procedures and treatment, transportation, and legal representation.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
05/25/21 - Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant Annual Plan
09/28/21 - Santa Cruz County Secure Youth Track Agreement (included authority to execute agreements with multiple counties)
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$1,314,000 |
$1,314,000 |
$1,314,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
- |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$1,314,000 |
$1,314,000 |
$1,314,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$1,314,000 |
$1,314,000 |
$1,314,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Revenue associated with these Agreements has been included in the department’s FY24-25 budget and estimates that Sonoma County will house 6-10 youth during the fiscal year, and dependent upon detention population of local youth. Any future budgetary impacts will be presented to the Board during the annual budget cycle or as part of consolidated budget adjustments through the County Administrator.
|
Staffing Impacts: NA |
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|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Secure Youth Treatment Agreement template
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None