(1220) Juvenile Hall Division

(50) Probation

Division Overview

The San Benito County Youth Services Center is a 24-hour a day, seven days a week, secure detention facility with a rated capacity to house up to 20 youth. The facility is staffed by Juvenile Institution Officers (JIO's) who supervise the youth and are responsible for their care, custody, and control. The Youth Services Center (YSC) is a temporary holding facility for youths awaiting court and serves as the commitment facility for youth post-disposition. Additionally, the facility has the capacity to serve secure track youth up to the age of 25. The YSC is operated in accordance with the regulations set forth in the California Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities, Title 15. Services include, but are not limited to, academic programming, medical and behavioral health care, organized recreation, religious services, and strengths-based programming facilitated by several community-based organizations.

STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS

The budget requests of the San Benito County Youth Services Center (YSC) directly correlate with the county's Strategic Plan goals in the areas of Operational Development and Excellence, Technology, Community Engagement and Healthy and Safe Community.

 

  • Operational Development and Excellence

The Youth Services Center strives to recruit and retain employees who are mission focused, skilled in the delivery of culturally responsive, trauma informed care services, and embrace continuous improvement. Through training and hands on experiences, the Youth Services Center strives for the development of future leaders and positive role models in the community.

 

  • Technology

The Youth Services Center is committed to maximizing the effective and efficient use of evolving technologies to deliver exemplary service to the youth in their care and the reintegration of these youth into the community. Youth are provided APDS services through the use of tablets. In this budget cycle, the camera system and control panel will be updated in the facility and the probation department is in the process migrating to a new case management system.

 

  • Community Engagement

The Youth Services Center fosters partnerships with other agencies to expand and enhance the quality of service while maximizing the use of limited resources. Programming is sought through community-based organizations and fostering partnerships with members in the community who care about the future and well-being of incarcerated youth.              

 

  • Healthy and Safe Community

The Youth Services Center promotes public safety through evidence-based programs and services with the overall goal of reducing recidivism and successful reentry into the community.

RECENT DEPARTMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

  • Renovated the Youth Services Center to include new paint, new flooring, replacing the ceiling tiles, the purchase of new furniture for the recreational dayroom, the installation of a culinary cart, replaced the desks in the school classroom, and purchased desks and stools for each youth room.
  • Successfully applied for and received $1.5 million in CalAIM PATH Round 3 Funding.
  • Submitted the CalAIM Implementation Plan.
  • Reclassified Youth Services Center staff (Juvenile Institution Officer III classification has been reclassified to Supervising Deputy Probation Officer).
  • Maintained food safety training program for youth to obtain a food handlers certificate and prepare the youth for entry level employment in the food service industry.
  • Completed 5 hiring recruitments for the San Benito County Youth Services Center
  • Hired 4 new staff to include extra-help Juvenile Institution Officers (JIO), a Supervising Deputy Probation Officer, and JIO's.
  • Expanded and maintained the Partners Achieving Change Together (PACT) team program for youth; to include contracted services with a licensed forensic psychologist.
  • Completed/Passed Inspections:

  1. Public Health inspection

  2. Environmental Health Inspection
  3. School Inspection
  4. Fire inspection by the Hollister Fire Department
  5. Juvenile Justice Commission inspection
  6. Presiding Judge’s inspection
  7. Building Inspection

 

TOP DEPARTMENTAL CONCERNS:

  • Ongoing staff recruitment and retention.
  • Implementation of CalAIM.
  • The ability to provide sufficient training to newly hired staff while also maintaining minimum staffing levels.
  • Overtime costs within the facility on a recurring basis.
  • Lack of adequate pay for juvenile institution officer staff to retain in San Benito County and not seek employment in surrounding counties.
  • Providing ongoing training for staff to work with special populations and secure track.

Staff

Recommended Budget

Long Range Planning Goals (3-5 years) For Department

  • Facilitating secure youth track programming in our local facility to be in compliance with the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) and the SB 823 Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan.
  • Develop and implement more evidence-based programming and practices.
  • Continue to provide educational opportunities for youth.
  • Partnering with the San Benito County Office of Education to develop a community vocational program for youth.
  • Annually review and update policies and procedures to increase safety, reduce liability, and maintain compliance with Title 15 and Title 24 regulations.
  • Cross training of probation officer staff.
  • Reclassification of Juvenile Institution Officer to Deputy Probation Officer.
  • Reclassification of a Superintendent to oversight the YSC in lieu of the Assistant Chief Probation Officer.