Approve and authorize the Probation Chief to enter into a three-year contract with the El Dorado County Probation Department for the provision of Secure Youth Treatment Facility (SYTF) services in the amount of up to $400,000 annually ($1,200,000 total), effective August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2027; and adopt budget resolution amending the Probation Department’s 2024-25 budget in the amount of $422,000. (No general fund impact) (Fruchtenicht)

On May 7, 2024, the Probation Department came before the Board to request approval to negotiate an agreement with El Dorado County Probation Department for the provision of SYTF services for Yolo County youth. The Department is returning today with a negotiated agreement between El Dorado County Probation and Yolo County Probation which was reviewed and approved by each respective County Counsels. 

Senate Bill 823 Background
In September 2020, Senate Bill (SB) 823 was signed into law, ending placement of justice system-involved youth in State facilities (Department of Juvenile Justice – DJJ) and realigning the responsibility to provide rehabilitative services for this population to their respective counties of residence (secure track).  Each county, in partnership with their Juvenile Justice Realignment Subcommittee (Subcommittee) of their Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, was then tasked with developing a plan for rehabilitative treatment for those youth committed to Secure Youth Treatment Facilities – the highest level for serious juvenile offenders requiring long-term treatment and custodial care who could not have their needs addressed through intensive community-based services.

Besides the enhanced treatment needs of this population, SB 823 also established the age of jurisdiction as follows:

Also unique to this population is the average length of stay.  While the average length of stay for youth detained in Yolo County’s Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF) is 22 days, the average length of stay for Yolo County youth previously committed to DJJ was 2.4 years.  The shortest length of stay was just under 2 years with the longest length of stay being almost 6 years – more than a quarter of a youth’s life.

Additionally, SB 823 defined certain programming for this population. Secure track program requirements are meant to meet long-term rehabilitative goals and address life enrichment needs. While current services provided by the JDF are also focused on rehabilitation and life enrichment, they are developed to be short-term programming. For example, required secure track programming includes vocational training, which by its very nature, is long-term. 

Besides providing programming that is more comprehensive, it generally would be difficult to contract for and stand-up programming when needed, and then shutter it when no longer needed. Likewise, there may be a need for additional staffing in the event youth must be separated, for example, based on their age, sophistication and needs.  While there is space in the JDF to separate youth, staffing levels do not make this easily feasible.  Like contracted services, increasing staffing can take up to six months from posting the recruitment to completion of background checks.  It should be noted that since 2015, only 8 Yolo County youth were placed in DJJ.  So, while secure track programming may be long-term, the need is typically few and far between.

After looking at a variety of variables such as low placement of youth for Yolo County, as well as the potential delays in ramping up/ramping down services for a fluctuating population, the Yolo County Juvenile Justice Realignment Subcommittee recommended that the Probation Department look to other small neighboring counties who provide SYTF services, to, benefit from their investments and to provide stability for Yolo County youth and the Probation Department. For all these reasons, the Yolo County Subcommittee’s updated Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan (Attachment A), submitted to the Board of Supervisors on April 9, recommends contracting for SYTF services.  The plan outlines the following related to contracting:
 

Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan Excerpt: Yolo County will utilize appropriate needs-based secure youth treatment programs, including specialized treatment services to rehabilitate any youth committed to a secure track program. …youth will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, as all needs will be considered prior to determining the appropriate secure track facility.  Should a youth have specialized needs (female, sex offending behavior, intensive mental health needs, etc.), they will be placed in the most appropriate program that can meet those specialized needs.

 

Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan Excerpt: It has been determined that due to the current and historical low number of target population youth…Yolo County would struggle with providing a secure youth treatment facility.  Should the Court order a youth to a secure youth treatment facility, Yolo County will seek a program that meets the individualized needs of the youth.  Yolo County will contract with a nearby program (if possible), as retaining a youth close to their community of origin increases the ability to keep the youth engaged in local culture, community services, and family and natural support engagement.   Yolo County will simultaneously engage youth in its Community Re-Entry Program beginning from the date of SYTF adjudication.

 

Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan Excerpt: In locating a secure youth treatment facility, requirements include rehabilitation planning through a Multi-Disciplinary Team approach; community-based team, programs, and services centered on rehabilitation; comprehensive individualized trauma- and evidence-based programs; and individualized step-down approaches to ensure each youth maximizes engagement and prepares the youth for successful re-entry into the community; which will include collaboration between Yolo County probation staff and the selected treatment facility staff.

Recommendation
When considering the priorities outlined in the Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan, the Probation Department has been in communication with nearby counties concerning contracting for Secure Youth Treatment Facilities.  To ensure Yolo County is well-positioned, should youth be adjudicated to a secure track program in the near future, the Probation Department, along with County Counsel, have been negotiating an agreement with the El Dorado County Probation Department to provide SYTF services to Yolo County youth.

Probation Department staff have toured El Dorado County’s facilities and affirmed they have programs and services in place to meet the needs of this unique population.  Besides the required educational services and medical, mental health and dental care, El Dorado County provides activities and guidance intended to contribute to youths’ social and personal development and to enhance their ability to function successfully in the community.  These programs include services related to family reunification, substance abuse education and anger management. 

Additionally, El Dorado County contracts with several small counties for SYTF services.  These contracts increase the potential for a population size greater than what would be realized in a JDF-based program, and which would support the provision of robust services to meet the evolving needs of youth likely to be detained for longer periods of time.  A more sizable population also supports programs and outcomes that benefit from group-related interactions.

Finally, while not adjacent to Yolo County, El Dorado County is close enough in proximity to allow the Probation Department to transport family members and other supports as needed or arrange for other transportation options. Additionally, El Dorado County is a small, rural county with philosophies similar to Yolo County, supporting a collaborative working relationship to ensure the needs of this population are met.

Future Considerations
It should be noted that, while the Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan recommends contracting for SYTF services and staff recommends entering a contract for SYTF services with El Dorado County at this time. However, taking this step does not preclude Yolo County Probation from standing up secure track programming in the JDF should the number of youths needing secure track services increase significantly.

Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council
Juvenile Justice Realignment Subcommittee
County Counsel
Department of Financial Services

Not applicable