Special Programs

Although grant funding for the program has now expired, the essential components of the program have been continued and provide assessment, treatment, and case management services.  The JDC enriches the level of service to minors and families with substance abuse issues in all three major geographical regions of the County by providing intensive judicial supervision, mandatory drug testing

Juvenile Drug Court
The Juvenile Drug Court (JDC) is a collaborative effort of the Superior Court, Probation Department, Public Defender, District Attorney, ADMHS, and community-based treatment service agencies.  JDC was first implemented in October 2000, and was originally funded by a U.S. Department of Justice Drug Court Office Grant. 

Although grant funding for the program has now expired, the essential components of the program have been continued and provide assessment, treatment, and case management services.  The JDC enriches the level of service to minors and families with substance abuse issues in all three major geographical regions of the County by providing intensive judicial supervision, mandatory drug testing, escalating sanctions, and treatment to help break the cycle of substance abuse.  Each JDC participant and family is assessed by a community-based organization and ADMHS staff and a treatment plan is developed based on the needs and strengths of the family.  JDC Judges routinely review the cases and representatives from Probation, District Attorney, Public Defender, and the treatment provider are present for the review hearings. Each case is staffed prior to the hearing to provide information and to decide on an appropriate course of action focused on the accountability of the minor.  The information provided includes results of drug testing, conduct within the home, performance at school, attendance and performance in drug treatment programs, and conduct within the community.  Based on the outcomes of the reports, the Judge may impose consequences for a negative report or rewards for a positive report.  Consequences may include increased frequency of treatment, brief incarceration or more restrictive curfew. Rewards include advancement to the next level of the program, praise, encouragement, and donated items such as theater passes or tee shirts.

The JDC promotes public safety by empowering minors and families to establish and maintain drug and crime free life styles.  The target population is minors who are 14 years of age and older, nonviolent and with a history of moderate to severe substance abuse.  The JDC participants may be placed on 6, 9, or 12 month treatment programs followed by up to three months of aftercare.  Successful completion of the JDC program is celebrated with a graduation and, in some cases, the Court dismissing the charges that brought the minor before the Court.

Counseling and Education Centers (CEC)
Santa Barbara County operates two Counseling and Education Centers, serving minors in the South and North County.  Staffing at each program consists of a combination of a Deputy Probation Officers, Juvenile Institutions Officers, Office Assistants, teachers, teacher’s aides, specialized resource personnel and licensed MFT Mental Health Practitioners. 

The focus of the program is to allow a minor, who is a ward of the Court, who presents him or herself with significant school related issues or the need to be monitored more closely during the day (minors with significant behavioral or metal health related problems), to remain in the community in the least restrictive setting while having these needs met.  The minor attends the program during the day and can reside at home or in a local placement setting.  Daily progress is charted and the length of the commitment to the program is one hundred successful days but is ultimately dependent upon the minor's behavior while in the program. 

The program is unique in that it provides a centralized site based location where, in partnership with Probation, the County Education Office and ADMHS, a minor’s needs are able to be met on multiple levels. One-to-one counseling, group counseling, and Aggression Replacement Training are integral parts of each minor's program.  The South County program has the capacity to serve 22 minors and their families; the North County program serves 44 minors and their families.

Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA)
The Schiff-Cardenas Crime Prevention Act of 2000, currently referred to as the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA), allocates funds to California counties earmarked to provide for a continuum of responses to juvenile crime and delinquency.JJCPA-funded counties must demonstrate a collaborative and integrated approach for implementing a system of swift, certain and graduated responses for at-risk minors and juvenile offenders, with "demonstrated effective" programs.  In 2007, the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council completely revised the Local Action Plan, and additional updated information was provided in the form an addendum for 2009.  Santa Barbara County's current funding strategies include:  

Truancy Mediation/School Intervention
Truancy Mediation/School Intervention services are provided countywide.  Community-based organizations are contracted to provide an array of services, including individual and family counseling, and gang intervention services, according to individual need.  For FY07-08, the program was modified to included school-based violence prevention and intervention efforts.  This program modification has provided Probation the opportunity to deploy five School Intervention Deputy Probation Officers to local school campuses.  These School Based Officers (SBO) carry caseloads of up to 20 minors and work closely with education personnel and law enforcement school resource officers to provide a high level of supervision, reduce gang and violent activity, and promote school attendance.  The shift in serving wards that are at imminent risk for violent behavior or gang activity, truancy, and removal from their homes will maximize the resources combating juvenile delinquency.

Initial Assessment/First Offender Intervention 
Initial assessments are completed by a Senior Deputy Probation Officer for minors referred to the Probation Department.  The Santa Barbara Asset and Risk Assessment, a statistically valid gender and culturally sensitive assessment instrument, is administered with minors and parents/guardians.  the assessment provides the Probation Officer with valuable information regarding the individual strengths and needs of each minor and their family, which allows for a more targeted approach to service delivery.

Three Deputy Probation Officers with caseloads of 40 minors provide Early Intervention services. These services target high-risk minors and their families with programs and treatment, as well as active home and community supervision  Offenders remain on this caseload until they are successful or until a higher level of care is available to them.  The Deputy Probation Officers work in tandem with counseling and other service providers to provide a team case management model.

Youthful Offender Block Grant Program
On September 1, 2007, Senate Bill 81 and subsequent clean up legislation under Assembly Bill 191enacted a major juvenile justice reform package which precluded the commitment of non-violent juvenile offenders to secure facilities operated by the state DJJ and shifted the population to county facilities and programs.  Under this legislation, also known as the Youthful Offender Block Grant (YOBG), counties are now responsible for the custody and care of juvenile offenders who can no longer be sent to state institutions.  The reform measure provides counties with block grant funds to pay for local alternatives to state commitment.  It is widely viewed by the parties that negotiated the realignment — including state administrators, lawmakers and county representatives — as the most significant juvenile justice reform in recent California history.
In Santa Barbara County, all non-707(b) Welfare and Institutions Code (W&IC) wards returning from DJJ or those who have had their DJJ parole revoked are, upon their return to County jurisdiction, automatically assigned to the YOBG intensive supervision caseload in the appropriate geographic region.  Wards who are currently in the community qualify for this intensive service if they meet program criteria and are approved by the Placement Review Committee (PRC).

The YOBG program includes custody and out-of-custody components that include a thorough assessment and detailed individualized case management plan.  With the exception of those non-707(b) W&IC wards being released from DJJ and returned to County jurisdiction, the PRC will determine if the ward is stable, amenable to community supervision, and if the ward can safely remain in the community, or if treatment in the YOBG Secure Detention Program is more appropriate.  To maintain continuity of care, once a ward is in the YOBG program, they will remain under the supervision of the same Probation Officer whether in the community or in custody.

Restorative Justice Program
Restorative Justice (RJ) is a new way of thinking about and responding to crime.  It emphasizes the fundamental fact that crime damages people, communities, and relationships.  If crime is about harm, then the justice process should emphasize repairing the harm.  RJ builds on traditional positive community values and on effective sanctioning practices, including victim-offender mediation, reparative boards, family group conferencing, community service, restitution, victim and community impact statements, and victim awareness panels. 

The Probation Department supports and participates on local RJ task forces to promote the development of policies and practices that will increase victim and community involvement for restoration, offender accountability and integration, and improved conflict resolution interventions. 

Restorative justice programs have been underway at the two Counseling and Education Centers in collaboration with Conflict Solutions Center, Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services, and the Community Action Commission.  This RJ model is testing a three level protocol of conversation, agreement, and conference in an effort to reduce delinquent behavior, crime, and victimization at these Probation schools.  Additional Restorative Justice projects designed to address juvenile delinquency at various stages of the continuum are also being implemented in the Lompoc and Santa Barbara regions.