Los Angeles County Programs

Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention (JJCPA) Act 2000

FACT SHEET

INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Mental Health, Screening, Assessment And Treatment

This program provides mental health screening for all youth entering juvenile hall.  Appropriate minors receive mental health services while in detention and are referred to community-based mental health services when released.

• National studies have identified mental health services as a major weakness and need for detained youth.  Los Angeles County’s local study conducted in September supported the national studies. The County’s Department of Mental Health conducted a pilot study and found that 34% of the youth entering the Probation Department’s juvenile halls were in need of mental health services. During this time, there was no screening or assessment of the minors entering the juvenile halls, and only crisis intervention services were provided. Since the implementation of JJCPA, all minors entering juvenile hall are screened, and assessed within 48 hours. Since December 2001, approximately 12,530 detained youth have been screened 3,068 treated for some type of disorder.

Special Needs Court

This program focuses on juvenile offenders who suffer from mental illness, organic brain impairment, or developmental disabilities.  The court attempts to best meet the challenging needs of each minor.  A team of mental health professionals, school and probation officers work with the court in determining an effective service plan for the minor.

• Before the implementation of the Los Angeles County’s mental health initiative, mentally ill minors, including those who suffered organic brain impairment or development disabilities, were processed through the regular judicial system. The Special Needs Court provides Los Angeles County with a new and effective process for handling youth with severe mental health problems. Additionally, the court provides new treatment and placement options for mentally ill youth.  This court is the first full-time Juvenile Mental Health Court in the United States. To date, 49 minors have been served.

Community Treatment Facilities (CTF)

This program provides supplemental funding, $2500 per month per bed, to establish the Community Treatment Facility (CTF) category of care for seriously emotionally disturbed children.  The youth in this program may be referred from the delinquency, dependency, or mental health systems.

• Prior to the implementation of the CTF program, there were no secure residential treatment facilities available for minors who were difficult to place.  With JJCPA funding, two CTFs have been established, resulting in the placement of 105 minors with mental health problems. The Two CTFs are the first and only secure residential placements in the state.  These new options have facilitated the process of placing mentally ill youth in the dependency and delinquency systems. 

Multisystemic Therapy Program (MST)

This program, copyrighted by MST, Inc., is a treatment approach designed to improve the psychosocial functioning of youth and their families so that the need for out-of-home placements is reduced or eliminated.

·        Out-of-home placement is a costly issue for Los Angeles County.  The MST pilot has provided the county with a proven and effective home-based treatment program.  To date 21 families have participated in the program. 

PROMOTING SCHOOL SUCCESS

School-Based Probation Supervision and Extended Day Supervision

School-Based Probation Supervision assigns Deputy Probation Officers to 90 high schools, 30 middle schools and 5 elementary schools to reduce crime and delinquency and improve student attendance, performance and behavior.  These schools are located in communities that are impacted by multiple risk factors such as high rates of overall crime, juvenile crime, substance and alcohol abuse, child abuse, and poverty.

• JJCPA Schools have reported an increase in school safety as this program has allowed probation and school officials to address gang violence on campus.  The Principal of Hollenbeck Middle School (Los Angeles Unified School District) states: “The Probation Officer on our campus has been very instrumental in curbing student’s delinquent behavior as well as making sure they attend classes in a consistent manner.”  This statement is representative of the school-based program.  Additionally, parents have expressed satisfaction and great appreciation for the intervention services of School-Based Probation Officers.

Abolish Chronic Truancy Program (ACT)

ACT is an early intervention program administered by the District Attorney’s office which targets truant students and their parents.  The focus of the program is to return children to school and to hold the parent and child accountable for the child’s truancy.

·        Probation intervention for truancy generally occurs at the late states of middle and high school. The need was for expanded early intervention at the elementary schools. With the expansion of the ACT program this has been accomplished.  Before the implementation of JJCPA, the ACT program serviced 343 elementary schools and 1,200 students.  JJCPA funding has allowed the ACT program to expand to an additional 50 elementary schools, servicing an additional 1,750 students.  Most truant students show improvement after the District Attorney places the parents on notice.

After School Enrichment And Supervision

After School Enrichment and Supervision offers after-school and weekend programs to provide positive supervision and education enrichment, and deter criminal behavior.

·        Since the implementation of JJCPA, selected County and City parks located in 85 neighborhoods of high need are now being used for after-school enrichment and supervision programs for probationers and at-risk youth. Prior to the implementation of this program, many of the probationers were without adequate supervision and were vulnerable to the influence of gangs. The parks provide safe adult-supervised activities. An unanticipated accomplishment for this program is the large number of youth served 6,661.  Additionally, there was a high demand among parents and child advocates for wholesome supervised activities for youth.  The program at the parks has met this demand.

Gender Specific Services

This program targets value-based issues such as self-esteem, relationships, communication and learning styles for female youth in the community and juvenile institutions.

·        Prior to the implementation of JJCPA, services to the female offender population in the County’s juvenile justice system were inadequate and insufficient.  Since the implementation of JJCPA, services, to females have increased significantly and are mandatory for all JJCPA programs.  Female offenders and at-risk youth now benefit from an array of services that have opened new avenues of success to them by enhancing their self-esteem.     

Inside Out Writing

This program helps youth who are subject to long-term detention in juvenile hall. Minors in this program learn effective written and verbal communication skills. 

• This program has served 2,600 youth.  These youth have benefited from supplemental education and academic learning activities. The participants in this program have published some of their literary writings.        

REBUILING COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES

Gang Intervention

The JJCPA Gang Intervention Program establishes coordinated strategies within designated geographical areas.  Gang intervention services providers collaborate with probation officers, school officials, and other JJCPA program providers in delivering a menu of services aimed at reducing gang involvement and gang violence.

• JJCPA has established a network of gang intervention CBOs to assist the Probation Department and law enforcement agencies in addressing gang violence.  As indicated in the County’s Local Action Plan, the vast majority of gang members are not under probation supervision and reside in the community without effective monitoring or intervention.  The establishment of a countywide JJCPA network of gang intervention CBOs, working collaboratively with the Probation Department and law enforcement agencies, is one of the critical elements in the County’s effort to curtail the rise of gang violence. A promising feature of the model is the sharing of gang intelligence, in real time, and across gang boundaries. Gang CBOs now work cooperatively to provide services throughout the county.

Youth Substance Intervention

Youth Substance Intervention provides education, intervention, and treatment to deter young people from becoming involved with drugs and alcohol.

• The Los Angeles County’s survey of youth substance abuse treatment programs determined that there were insufficient resources for juveniles.  Using JJCPA funds to leverage existing community-based substance abuse service providers, the County increased treatment services for probationers and at-risk youth.  13 certified drug and alcohol treatment providers, coordinated through the Department of Health Services, provide services for youth in the 85 high crime and high need areas.  This program addresses a major weakness in the County’s juvenile justice system.

Housing-Based Day Supervision

Housing-Based Day Supervision provides Probation supervision and services in nine public housing developments to probationers, at-risk youth and their families. Many probationers reside in public housing developments.  These public housing developments are located in high crime and high needs areas, and are surrounded by gangs.

• Prior to the implementation of JJCPA, there were no day supervision programs in the public housing developments.  Now with the implementation of JJCPA, housing-day supervision programs have been established in nine public housing developments and have dedicated DPOs to provide probation services to probationers and at-risk youth. The program helps to monitor juvenile crime and has given low-income youth vital alternatives to gang, drugs and crime. To date 689 families have been served.

Law Enforcement Prevention

This Program works with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department in providing prevention services for at-risk youth.

• The JJCPA Law Enforcement Prevention Programs - Jeopardy and Vital Intervention and Directional Alternative (VIDA) - have targeted youth at-risk of joining gangs in high crime areas.  These programs have filled a critical need for early gang intervention.

Intensive Transition Services

This program provides services to juveniles returning to the community following incarceration through collaborative efforts among Probation, schools, and the community.

• The County’s Local Action Plan identified community reintegration for Probation youth as a key need and priority.  Before the start of the Intensive Transition Services program, families did not participate in aftercare planning and services and there was no continuity of services provided by in-camp CBOs and post-camp CBOs.  With JJCPA, there is now continuity of in-camp services provided by the same CBO.  Additionally, parents participate in aftercare planning and services.  To date, 465 probationers and their parents have been served.