SECTIONS 894-898 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 894-898

894. In order to provide a sentencing alternative for the juvenile
courts, one or more pilot regional youth educational facilities shall
be established as short-term intensive residential programs to which
primarily 16- and 17-year-old minor juvenile court wards not
committed to the Youth Authority who fit the description in Section
602 may be committed. Participating minors shall be those who are
awaiting out-of-home placement in county juvenile halls,
educationally behind in school, educable, able to participate in
vocational activities, and able to participate in work projects. Each
facility shall provide a short-term intensive educational
experience, including program elements such as competency-based
education services, assessment for learning disabilities including
visual perceptual screening and treatment, remedial individual
educational plans for diagnosed learning disabilities, electronic and
computer education, physical education, vocational and industrial
arts and training, job training and experience, character education,
victim awareness, and restitution. Wards who complete the short-term
intensive program who need continuing services shall be transferred
to local facilities for up to 60 days of additional education and
training. Following institutional placement, all wards in the program
shall receive intensive supervision by a probation officer in their
county of residence for a minimum of 120 days. Intensive supervision
means a 10 to 15 person caseload per deputy probation officer.

895. (a) From any state moneys made available to it for that
purpose, the Youth Authority shall assist counties in the
establishment of pilot regional youth educational facilities.
Interested counties that agree to provide matching funds or
resources, in compliance with standards established by the
department, may enter agreements with the Youth Authority to
establish these facilities. The facilities shall be operated by
participating counties, either solely or under a joint powers
agreement. The counties may contract with private agencies to provide
job training consultation or other services.
(b) The Youth Authority shall develop selection criteria for
participating counties to include, but not be limited to, all of the
following factors:
(1) Eligible target population.
(2) Demonstrated ability to administer the program.
(3) Facility capability.
(4) Financial ability to provide matching funds or resources.
(5) Demonstrated need for the program.
(6) Ability to meet regional needs.
(7) Ability to provide specified program elements.

896. (a) The Board of Corrections shall establish minimum
performance standards for programs of education and training and for
qualifications of personnel for all youth educational facilities in
the program, including local continuation and intensive supervision
components. These standards and qualifications shall be designed to
achieve program goals such as an increase in the educational level of
participants, better community protection and offender
accountability, and preparation of participants to return to the
community as responsible and productive members.
(b) Every person in charge of a regional youth educational
facility, which, in the preceding calendar year, was used for
confinement, for more than 24 hours, of any minor, shall certify
annually to the board that the facility is in conformity with the
standards adopted by the board under subdivision (a). The board may
provide forms and instructions to local jurisdictions to facilitate
compliance with this subdivision.
(c) The custodian of each regional youth educational facility
shall make any reports as may be required by the board to effectuate
the purposes of this section.

897. The capacity of each regional youth educational facility shall
be established pursuant to Sections 886 and 886.5.

898. The participating counties shall appoint a citizens advisory
committee with a membership drawn from law enforcement, judiciary,
probation, education, corrections, business, and the general public,
whose function is to review the goals, objectives, and programs of
each youth educational facility and provide input to the facility.