Intensive program diverts minor offenders, saves county
money
Morgan Hill – Some troubled boys and girls now have an alternative to incarceration with a new county rehabilitation program launched this week.
The 30-day program is designed to serve up to 24 youths at a time who have violated probation or committed minor offenses such as petty theft or drug use.
County officials say the program is a better alternative for some young offenders because it teaches life-building skills in a safer environment than juvenile hall. And, it’s cheaper than locking them up, officials say.
“Our goal is to serve as a safety net for young people who find themselves entering the criminal justice system,” said county Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, Chair of the Public Safety and Justice Committee. “We want them to know they can make better choices and the Evening Reporting Center is a safe, structured environment where they can learn.”
The program will be run through the new Evening Reporting Center, located at 1560 Berger Drive in San Jose. It will serve approximately 200 youths per year ages 14 to 17.
Juveniles who are eligible for the program will be driven from school or home to the center, where they will get life-skills training and instruction from 3 to 9pm. After the 30 days, participating youths will continue in an aftercare program tailored for each individual with parental input.
“The programs … will help our boys and girls in the system connect the dots between their behavioral choices and their consequences, so they can make better choices in their life,” Chief Probation Officer Sheila Mitchell said.
To support probation officers at the center, the county has partnered with two nonprofit groups: Alum Rock Counseling Center and Fresh Lifelines for Youth. Participants will get art classes, help with homework and tips on meal preparation.
The new center is one of several juvenile detention reforms now underway. The Probation Department is making changes to offer a more “balanced holistic approach” while stressing accountability, rehabilitation and responsibility, according to the county.
Other reforms recommended under a five-year initiative include adding a career center and library at James Boys Ranch near Morgan Hill, one of three detention centers in the county. According to the county, the majority of students at Juvenile Hall in San Jose are three to five grades behind in math and reading.
“These young people are part of our community and will be for the foreseeable future,” said Supervisor Jim Beall, chair of the board of supervisors. “It’s important that we provide the environment and programs needed to help turn their lives around.”
There are currently 368 youths in detention centers and an additional 2,800 who are on probation.
With the inauguration of the Evening Reporting Center, Santa Clara joins San Francisco and Santa Cruz counties in offering a short-term, intensive treatment in lieu of juvenile hall.
The estimated cost to run the center for the first year is $442, $133 or $71 daily per youth. According to the county, it costs $230 a day to detain at juvenile hall.
“The fact that the county can save $159 for every youth in the Evening Reporting Center instead of staying at Juvenile Hall is the icing on the cake,” Alvarado said. “What is most important is that we are giving youngsters new decision-making tools. The long-term payoff for them and for the community is enormous.”
