On Thursday, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Public Safety held an informational hearing to discuss a budget proposal that would result in the closure of the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).
In his May Revision of the 2020-21 State Budget, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed closing state juvenile detention facilities, prospectively transferring the responsibility for managing all youthful offenders to local jurisdictions, and directing a portion of the state savings to counties. Under the Governor’s initial proposal in May, state juvenile facilities would stop intake of new juvenile offenders effective January 1, 2021 and begin the closure of all three state facilities and the fire camp through the attrition of the current population. In recognition that some youth offenders in DJJ may have complex rehabilitation needs, the May Revise included funding to be awarded as competitive grants by the Board of State and Community Corrections to county probation departments that would serve as hubs to meet the specific treatment needs of youth throughout the juvenile justice system.
At today’s hearing, the budget subcommittee discussed aspects of a legislative alternative to the Governor’s May Revision proposal, which would, among other things, delay the date of DJJ closure for several years, offer increased accountability and oversight, and disburse funding to support the new local activities using a three-pronged approach.
RCRC is advocating on behalf of our member counties in partnership with our urban and statewide counterparts as discussions in the Legislature and Newsom Administration continue. The Governor and Legislature are expected to reach agreement on juvenile justice realignment before the Legislative Session adjourns at the end of August.