NCJ Number
164590
Journal
Law Enforcement Quarterly Dated: (November 1996-January 1997) Pages: 21-23
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The San Diego Juvenile Court has a strategy that emphasizes the rapid processing of juveniles through the court and the appropriate sentencing of juveniles to an array of expanded correctional regimens.
Abstract
The San Diego Juvenile Court has its own "fast track" program. The centerpiece of this new process is the accelerated preparation of the minor's social study by the Probation Department's Intake and Investigation unit. Starting from the juvenile's initial detention, probation officers begin preparing these reports so they are provided to the court for the readiness hearing, which is set 10 working days from the detention hearing. The pre-plea report cuts case processing time for in-custody minors in half. The judicial officer now has sufficient information to accept pleas, make findings, and sentence minors within 2 weeks of detention. All parties benefit from this accelerated processing; court time is saved; time spent by the minor in Juvenile Hall is reduced; the minor faces more immediate sanctions for his/her behavior; and the minor proceeds more quickly into the most appropriate program. So as to increase the number of options for juvenile sentencing that is tailored to each juvenile's needs, there are now expanded camp facilities that increase the number of wards who can benefit from the camp's programs, including expanded drug education. The conversion of Camp Barrett to a youth correctional center is an important step in creating more local programs and sentencing options. Recently, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors appropriated $883,000 for implementation of the CHOICE Program, an intensive supervision program for juveniles. It is modeled after a successful program in Baltimore and will employ teams of college graduates to provide intensive supervision and support for selected minors and their families. The key to the success of this delinquency strategy is the cooperation of all juvenile justice system participants.