The Juvenile Operations Bureau provides oversight and direction of Juvenile Hall and two juvenile camp/ranch facilities -Youth Guidance Center (YGC) and Youth Leadership Academy (YLA). Additionally, this bureau provides services through two distinct operational divisions – Juvenile Supervision and Juvenile Court Services. Juvenile Hall, YGC and YLA operate 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-per-week and must meet stringent guidelines established by the California Board of State and Community Corrections. Primary responsibilities include providing a safe environment for youth who are in custody; ensuring sufficient, well-trained staff are available; developing and providing a broad range of treatment and rehabilitative programs to meet youths’ needs, adhering to all laws/regulations/licensing requirements for correctional facilities, and overseeing correctional facility maintenance and development.
Juvenile Court Services
The Juvenile Court Services division provides several essential functions within the juvenile justice system. This division provides intake screening services for all youth referred by law enforcement agencies for alleged violations of the law, including both in-custody and out of custody referrals; conducts preliminary investigations to determine if further referrals to the District Attorney and Court are necessary; provides Juvenile Court Officers (JCOs) to participate in Juvenile Court Hearings; conducts investigations and prepares comprehensive reports for the Juvenile Court to assist in Court decisions and outcomes; participates in collaborative court programs such as Juvenile Recovery Court (JRC) and the Youth Development Court (YDC), supervises youth on the Pre-Detention and Pre-Disposition Program (PPP), and monitors diversion and administrative cases.
Preventing youth from entering the juvenile justice system has a meaningful impact on their overall development and success. For decades, the Probation Department has been actively engaged in diverting youth from the system and toward receiving support at home and within the community through local service providers and other support systems.
