Santa Cruz County, CA Presented by Fernando Giraldo, Assistant Chief Probation Officer

Santa Cruz County, CA Presented by Fernando Giraldo, Assistant Chief Probation Officer

Santa Cruz County, CA A Story of Sustainability in Equity and Detention Reform October 2011 OJJDP Conference Fernando Giraldo, Assistant Chief of Probation

3 60 50 Santa Cruz County Average Daily Population (1991-2011) Juvenile Hall Capacity Average Daily Population (1991-2011) October 6, 2011 Daily Audit: 19 TOTAL 2 Direct Files 8 707(b) Offenses 0 SB 81 Court Commits 1 Pending Placement 11 Traditional Admissions 40 30 20 10 Santa Cruz County becomes a JDAI Site BI Engagement (DMC-TAP Grant ) 0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Proposition 21: District Attorney Direct Files SB 81: Realignment

4 The Santa Cruz data and disparities issues Santa Cruz achieved great success in reducing detention utilization, particularly for Latino youth. But Needed a plan for sustainability: Improve data capacity and continue to monitor data particularly probation discretion. Meaningfully engage staff in reform work. Maintain and Enhance Culturally Responsive Programming Review policy and practice to ensure best practices are being utilized. Meaningful Community Engagement Strategy.

Staff Engagement DMC 101 Survey Results Do you have a role in reducing racial and ethnic disparities? Yes No Total Juvenile Hall Staff and Supervisors 5 6 11 DPO 1-2 9 8 17 DPO 3 4 2 6 Manager 4 0 4 Total 24 16 44 % Yes 45% 53% 67% 100% 63% The higher level the Probation staff, the greater the perception that they have a role in reducing disparities. 5

Staff Engagement 6 Data Review and Policy Recommendations: Each Unit Supervisor identifies and monitors key indicators of system health and racial and ethnic disparities; Staff dig deeper and ask probing questions about why system involvement increases or decreases; Staff recommend policy/practice solutions to address issues raised by reviewing the data. Example: Staff initiated and collaborated with BI to review how caseload decisions were made to ensure there were no racial/ethnic disparities. Example: Staff worked with BI to develop survey regarding probation violations; analyzed results; and based on the analysis, recommended, developed and helped train their peers on Probation Response Program. Training: Peer-to-Peer Training. Committee Work: All Staff were invited to join a core working group on reducing racial and ethnic disparities.

Culturally Responsive Programming: Be Intentional Culturally Competent Programs: Program staff: Bilingual and bicultural staff Close community ties and life experiences that help them relate to youth Closer in age to the youth at the evening center Location: Watsonville (80%-90% of the probation caseloads are Latino) Probation Programs: Evening Center: Data demonstrated that a significant number of Latino youth were being remanded into custody for VOPs. The EC serves Latino youth in Watsonville, to reduce court remands. Azteca Soccer: Probation youth soccer team Provides a healthy pro social activity to support youth to be successful in their lives and keep from them re-offending. Coached by a Probation Officer

8 Review of Policy and Practice: Are Best Practices being used? Detention Utilization Objective Risk Assessment Instrument Weekly Roster Review Placement Planning Management approval for overrides Placement Decisions Collaborative Placement Screening Committee Probation Violations Structured Probation Response System Supervisor Approval for VOP Petition Management Approval for VOP Detention Rethinking Probation Conditions Alternatives to Detention Luna Evening Center Bench Warrants Releasable Bench Warrant Policy Transportation services to probationers Call notification program

9 Override Rates 75% Override Rate (Excluding Policy Holds) 50% 25% Goal: Keep overrides under 25% 0% Q1 2006 Q2 2006 Q1 2007 Q2 2007 Q1 2008 Q2 2008 Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q1 2010 Q2 2010 Q1 2011 Q2 2011-25% White Latino

10 Review of Policy and Practice: Are Best Practices being used? Detention Utilization Objective Risk Assessment Instrument Weekly Roster Review Placement Planning Management approval for overrides Placement Decisions Collaborative Placement Screening Committee Probation Violations Structured Probation Response System Supervisor Approval for VOP Petition Management Approval for VOP Detention Rethinking Probation Conditions Alternatives to Detention Luna Evening Center Bench Warrants Releasable Bench Warrant Policy Transportation services to probationers Call notification program

11 Development of VOP Response Grid Historically: No response grid Variety of boutique case loads Robust continuum of services Supervisor sign off on all violations-good oversight Probation Violation Survey Informed us about inconsistencies Differences between north and south county Data showed that disparities existed

12 Santa Cruz County VOP Response Grid Brainstorm all responses in Santa Cruz Rank responses incentives vs. sanction; most restrictive to least restrictive Define Variables considered in grid Levels of seriousness of probation violation Levels of risk Develop Grid Develop Protocol to accompany grid Train Staff

Probation Violation Admissions 13 40 30 33 Youth Detained for VOP (excluding court orders/remands) Q4 2010 not included 20 10 0 21 16 9 13 8 8 3 1 1 3 0 0 2 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 White Black Latino

14 Review of Policy and Practice: Are Best Practices being used? Detention Utilization Objective Risk Assessment Instrument Weekly Roster Review Placement Planning Management approval for overrides Placement Decisions Collaborative Placement Screening Committee Probation Violations Structured Probation Response System Supervisor Approval for VOP Petition Management Approval for VOP Detention Rethinking Probation Conditions Alternatives to Detention Luna Evening Center Bench Warrants Releasable Bench Warrant Policy Transportation services to probationers Call notification program New work began July 2011

Q1 07 Q2 07 Q3 07 Q4 07 Q1 08 Q2 08 Q3 08 Q4 08 Q1 09 Q2 09 Q3 09 Q4 09 Q1 10 Q2 10 Q3 10 Bench Warrant FTAs 15 30 Trend of Admissions for Bench Warrant FTA 25 20 15 10 5 0

Community Engagement Strategy 16 Why involve community? Urgency Insight Resources Community Justice Network for Youth (program of the Burns Institute): Goal 1: Outreach to Community Goal 2: Coach Up the community on Goal 3: Integrate community stakeholders into the core working group Goal 4: Establish a Community Task Force

Continued Education with Staff 17 Staff trainings (and peer to peer learning) on VOP response grid Bi-monthly supervisor and management RED Meetings to review indicators and discuss other issues that may impact RED Staff orientation of JDAI Model Site Curriculum Bi-weekly staff meetings to consistently articulate values and vision

18 Key Components of Success and Sustainability Culture Change Meaningful Staff Engagement Embedding work to reduce disparities into all aspects of work Leadership and vision

19 Contact Information Fernando Giraldo Assistant Chief of Probation Santa Cruz County Probation Department Phone: (831) 454-3886 Email: fernando.giraldo@co.santa-cruz.ca.us