(1220) Juvenile Hall Division

The San Benito County Youth Services Center is a 24-hour a day 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 is a temporary holding facility for youths awaiting court and serves as the commitment facility for youth post-disposition. The Youth Services Center 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.

• Successfully applied and received $314,904.00 in SB 823 Part A grant funding as a result of the Juvenile Justice Realignment and the closure of the

Division of Juvenile Justice.

• Successfully applied and received $167,529.00 in SB 823 Part B grant funding from BSCC for facility and programming improvements.

• Successfully navigated the inability to have showers in the facility by renting trailers for over a year. We received and installed a new water heater on

November 10, 2022.

• Maintained a safe and healthy environment for detained youth and staff post-pandemic.

• 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.

• Facilitated Court hearings, family visits, and youth programs via Zoom when there have been COVID-19 restrictions in place.

• Completed four hiring recruitments for the San Benito County Youth Services Center.

• Hired nine extra-help juvenile institution officers (JIO) and 5.0 FTE JIO's to assist with maintaining minimum staffing levels in the facility.

• Implemented the Partners Achieving Change Together (PACT) team program for youth, to include contracted services with a licensed forensic psychologist.

• Completed/Passed Inspections:

• Public Health inspection

• Environmental Health Inspection

• School Inspection

• Fire inspection by the Hollister Fire Department

• Juvenile Justice Commission inspection

• Presiding Judge's inspection

• Building Inspection

• Staff recruitment and retention, as well as the loss of key veteran staff within the facility.

• Lack of Supervisory level staff in the facility despite ongoing recruitment efforts to fill vacancies.

• The ability to provide sufficient training to newly-hired staff while also maintaining minimum staffing levels within the facility.

• Overtime costs for having probation officers cover shifts 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.

• Increased requirements and vetting for facility improvements and the impact it will have on progressing forward in a timely manner.

• Inability to implement effective programming due to insufficient staffing levels.

• Developing a Secure Youth Track Facility (SYTF) Program as a result of the Juvenile Justice Realignment (SB 823) and the closing of the Division of Juvenile Justice

(DJJ).

• Providing ongoing training for existing staff and providing additional training that may be needed with the Juvenile Justice Realignment of youth formerly sent to DJJ.

• 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 outdoor educational opportunities for youth.

• With the San Benito County Office of Education, develop a program for youth to participate in a community vocational education program.

• 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 positions.