Juvenile Justice Reform: Realigning Responsibilities

Publication Date: July 2008

Publisher: Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy

Author(s):

Research Area: Justice

Keywords: juvenile justice

Type: Report

Coverage: California

Abstract:

In shifting responsibility to the counties for hundreds of Californiaâ s youth offenders, the state recognized that its juvenile justice system cannot be reformed without radical change.

Though prompted by cost concerns, the realignment of responsibilities to the counties was the right policy move, one previously recommended by this Commission and others. Many counties have demonstrated that they can provide programs and treatment to youth offenders who need to turn their lives around in settings that allow them to reintegrate more successfully into their communities.