HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.29.20 Shari McCracken -CSAC-UCC-RCRC Action Alert Juv Justice SB 823 & AB 1868 AT0
LEGISLATIVE ALERT
Counties / Probation OPPOSE DJJ Realignment
August 29, 2020
TO: All Members of the Legislature
FROM: Graham Knaus, Executive Director, California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
Karen Pank, Executive Director, Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC)
Elizabeth Espinosa, Legislative Advocate, Urban Counties of California (UCC)
Paul A. Smith, Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Rural Counties
Representatives of California (RCRC)
RE: Senate Bill 823 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) / Assembly Bill 1868 (Budget
Committee) DJJ Realignment - OPPOSE
For decades, the State has struggled mightily to find the appropriate policy solutions and
system responses for its portion of responsibility on the juvenile justice service continuum. This
year, yet another proposal to close the Division of Juvenile Justice and shift this critical service
responsibility to counties was unveiled late in a year otherwise marred by a global pandemic, a
resulting economic crisis, and lengthy, unplanned delays in the normal legislative and budget
process. Counties raised the alarm in May that
needs, the complex jurisdictional issues associated with the proposed realignment, and the
absolute necessity of building an operational and funding framework to appropriately catalyze
local innovation there simply was not enough time to resolve the myriad issues.
Today, in the final hours of the Legislative Session, county governments and our probation
departments are being required to accept a sensitive and vital responsibility one that shapes
the future paths of youth in our juvenile justice system in a form that is unworkable, does not
reflect county or probation input on critical aspects, and cannot assure delivery of improved
outcomes for the young people we are being asked to serve. The State is attempting to reduce
costs and transfer liability by shifting the remainder of the entire juvenile justice system
responsibility to county governments without giving us the necessary authority and flexibility to
respond to local conditions. CSAC, CPOC, UCC, and RCRC unequivocally oppose the DJJ
SB 823/AB 1868 DJJ Realignment
CSAC, CPOC, UCC, RCRC OPPOSE
August 29, 2020 | Page 2
Realignment structure the Legislature is proposing to send to the Governor for his signature
in SB 823/AB 1868.
While we only have had the benefit of evaluating the final framework for a matter of hours, we
highlight the principal components of the measure that underlie our opposition, including:
Establishment of a new, untested state bureaucracy with overly expansive authority,
including the power to exert broad control over existing local programs despite the
historic success of these programs in diverting youth out of detention;
Expectation of considerable and costly local data collection and reporting requirements
that span the entire juvenile justice system, which while offering benefits will
impose a large state mandate;
Inference that counties cannot be fully trusted with this responsibility, while the state
appears eager to offload to counties a very challenging, costly, and sensitive service
responsibility on the juvenile justice service continuum;
Transfer of existing, critical funding streams under the purview of a new layer of state
bureaucracy with the intent of disrupting the fund flow for long-standing, successful
programs that represent foundational support for our core local services.
Creation of multiple processes and bureaucracy to define and plan for realignment that
will hamper rather than promote innovation, most likely delaying implementation
efforts and diverting critical funding away from direct services to youth.
Mere intent language to protect against an increase in adult court commitments, rather
than a thoughtful or complete process.
A July 1, 2021, DJJ intake closure date that, under this proposal, does not provide
counties and probation departments with sufficient time to prepare local programs and
facilities for the population being shifted to local government.
The state consistently relies on counties for extensive partnership in the delivery of programs
for our mutual constituents. We are routinely asked to help solve complex societal problems
and drive innovation in delivering services to the most vulnerable in our communities. The DJJ
realignment approach in SB 823/AB 1868 lacks any reflection of this long-standing approach.
The proposal to close DJJ facilities and realign the responsibility to counties as contemplated in
SB 823/AB 1868 is unacceptable. The State cannot expect local practitioners to fulfill this
responsibility without taking into account our needs and expertise an expertise that counties
have demonstrated successfully among the nearly 90 percent of the youth (all but those with
most serious and complex treatment needs.
For these reasons, CSAC, CPOC, UCC and RCRC urge the Legislature to reject SB 823/AB 1868.
SB 823/AB 1868 DJJ Realignment
CSAC, CPOC, UCC, RCRC OPPOSE
August 29, 2020 | Page 3
cc: Ana Matasantos, Cabinet Secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Keely Bosler, Director of Finance
Christopher Woods, Budget Director, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins
Christopher A. Francis, Ph.D., Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Matt Osterli, Senate Republican Fiscal
Jason Sisney, Budget Director, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
Jennifer Kim, Assembly Budget Committee
Lyndsay Mitchell, Assembly Republican Fiscal Office
Jessica Devencenzi, Office of the Governor
Amy Jarvis, Department of Finance
Clint Kellum, Department of Finance