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Program Enhancements and Other Budget Adjustments
Division of Juvenile Justice
WORKLOAD ADJUSTMENT FOR PROJECTED JUVENILE OFFENDER AND PAROLEE POPULATION
The Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) projects a juvenile institution population of 2,630 youthful offenders by June 30, 2007, 30 less than anticipated in the 2006 Budget Act. The 2007-08 year-end institution population is expected to decrease by 40 wards, resulting in a June 30, 2008 population of 2,490. Primarily due to delays in the implementation of smaller living units and associated staffing ratios called for in the Safety and Welfare and Mental Health Remedial Plans, the Governor's Budget proposes a decrease of $9.3 million General Fund and $488,000 other funds in 2006-07. There is an increase of $8.2 million General Fund in 2007-08 due to the ongoing implementation of these additional units and staffing ratios. However, the overall costs in 2007-08 are lower than the level of funding originally approved in both of the remedial plans due to slower activation than initially anticipated. The total General Fund expenditures are partially offset by General Fund revenues from the sliding scale fees paid by counties. In 2006-07, these revenues are estimated to be $16.7 million, a decrease of $829,000 from the revenue expected at the time of the 2006 Budget Act. In 2007-08, these revenues are estimated to be $15.8 million.
The juvenile parole population is expected to be 2,775 by June 30, 2007, a decrease of 160 from the 2006 Budget Act. By June 30, 2008, the juvenile parole population is expected to decrease by 240 from the level projected in the 2006 Budget Act to a total of 2,405. To address this change, the Governor's Budget proposes decreases of $1.2 million General Fund in 2006-07 and $2.4 million General Fund in 2007-08.
The population adjustment proposed in the Governor's Budget for the Juvenile Education Program reflects staffing ratios consistent with the requirements of the Education Remedial Plan. General Fund Proposition 98 funding is projected to decrease by $1.9 million in 2006-07 and $2.6 million in 2007-08.
SHIFTING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE POPULATION
Prior to the 2005 Youth and Adult Correctional Agency consolidation, the DJJ was known as the California Youth Authority (CYA). The CYA was created in 1941 and began operating "reform schools" in 1943, when the Governor transferred management of three state reformatories to CYA oversight. At that time, the population consisted of 1,080 wards in institutions and 1,625 wards on parole. By June of 1996, the population of CYA had grown to an institution high of 10,114 and a parole high of 6,249. As the result of legislation enacted to increase the cost for counties to house wards in state institutions and efforts to enhance services at the local level, the DJJ's population has steadily declined since 1996.
Local juvenile justice services have improved through efforts like the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) program. The JJCPA is a partnership between the state, 56 counties, and more than 200 community-based organizations. Under the JJCPA, local officials and stakeholders determine where to direct resources through an interagency planning process; the state appropriates funds to counties on a per-capita basis; and community-based organizations deliver the services. It is a partnership that recognizes the value of local discretion in addressing juvenile crime. Outcome data collected by counties indicates that JJPCA programs have been successful in curbing juvenile crime and delinquency in California.
As a result of programs like the JJPCA, and the higher cost of state versus local housing for juvenile offenders, counties have consistently sent fewer offenders to the DJJ; a trend that is likely to continue. As of June 30, 2006, DJJ's institution population had decreased to 2,887 (71 percent lower than June 1996) and its parole population had decreased to 3,162 (49 percent lower than June 1996). Less than one percent of juveniles arrested in California end up in DJJ facilities. The rest are retained at the local level.
Despite this significant drop in the institution population, the state was unable to provide adequate program services for the remaining offender population. As a result of a taxpayer lawsuit (Farrell v. Tilton), the state agreed to review the entire system and reform the programs provided to juvenile offenders. Beginning in 2005-06, the DJJ began implementing reforms, as stipulated by the Farrell consent decree, in areas of Mental Health, Sex Behavior, Disability, Education, Medical Care, and Safety and Welfare. The Farrell reforms are intended to enhance the state's juvenile justice services and focus on the rehabilitation of the juvenile offender population. Consistent with enhancing the services it provides, the DJJ has reevaluated its mission in an effort to determine where juvenile offenders would be best served during their rehabilitation.
Beginning July 1, 2007, the DJJ will begin the process of shifting the population of juvenile offenders housed in state facilities to local facilities, and will provide resources to support their program and housing needs. The DJJ will reduce its population so that only the most serious and violent juvenile offenders are housed in DJJ facilities. Offenders convicted of lesser crimes will remain at the county level where they can benefit from programs provided by their local communities and be closer to potential support networks.
The DJJ will accomplish this shift by narrowing the scope of intake and phasing out a portion of its current population. Specifically, the DJJ will stop intake of female juvenile offenders and no longer house female offenders in DJJ facilities. The DJJ will stop intake for parole violators with an original non-violent offense and non-violent juveniles who are adjudicated by the court and who are currently committed to DJJ until age 21. The DJJ will further reduce its current population by returning non-violent juveniles who are the responsibility of the DJJ until the age of 21 to the jurisdiction of counties.
These changes are projected to result in DJJ's population being reduced by 1,338 juvenile offenders by June 30, 2008, as compared to the projections discussed above. To provide adequate programs and services to wards that are sent back to counties, or who otherwise would have been committed to the DJJ but will now be held at the county level, the state will provide counties with funding through a block grant to support local programs for these offenders. The block grant methodology will be evaluated in the future to determine if it results in an equitable distribution of funds. Also, the CDCR will audit the expenditure of the block grant funds to ensure that the resources are spent on the juvenile offender population. In 2007-08, an estimated $53 million will be allocated to counties. Because the state's cost to provide housing and programming is greater than the funding to be provided to counties, this approach will result in a savings of $32.9 million General Fund in 2007-08. There will be an additional reduction of $10 million General Fund in 2007-08 resulting from the elimination of funding for the Juvenile Justice Community Reentry Challenge Grant.
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CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS for
Corrections and Rehabilitation Back to Top
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