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Juvenile Justice Program :: Reports

Reports | About The Juvenile Justice Program

California Budget Bulletin May 17, 2005

by David Steinhart

GOVERNOR'S MAY BUDGET REVISION RESTORES $75 MILLION IN SCHIFF-CARDENAS CRIME PREVENTION ACT FUNDS, AND ADDS PLANNING FUNDS FOR YOUTH AUTHORITY REFORMS

Crime Prevention Act funding cut is rescinded

On May 13th, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued his May Budget Revision. The big news for juvenile justice advocates was the restoration of $75 million in Schiff-Cardenas Crime Prevention Act (CPA) funds that had been slashed by the Governor in his January Budget Proposal.

The CPA became law in 2000. It has provided counties with approximately $100 million per year, dedicated to youth crime and violence prevention programs. Local Probation Departments have relied heavily on this state revenue stream for the support of juvenile justice services including mental health, after-school, gang outreach, academic, counseling and other programs, including specialized programs for girls in the justice system.

In his January budget, the Governor proposed cutting CPA funds by three fourths. This move was vehemently opposed by counties, law enforcement agencies, probation and community youth service groups. In a somewhat stunning reversal, the Governor responded to critics by putting the $75 million back in this May revision. There will be a technical reduction in CPA funding for FY 05-06, since the restoration proposal includes a payment schedule change that would shift the payout of CPA founds to counties at the end (rather than the beginning) of each fiscal cycle. But this change is not expected to have any negative impact on existing programs or personnel.

Youth Authority: funds for reform plans are included in the May Revision

The May Revision also addresses a number of juvenile justice and Youth Authority reform issues, with the following proposed new expenditures:

• $ 3.1 million to the Youth and Adult Corrections Agency (YACA) for continued planning of statewide juvenile justice reforms. This would continue the efforts led by the Administration to date to supplant the existing Youth Authority with a new, treatment-based model and to identify state-local juvenile justice caseload and cost changes that would be consistent with the new model. For example, still on the table in the Capitol is a proposal to shift CYA parole from state to local government, with a companion shift of state funds. Presumably, the $3.1 million would support further YACA review of this proposed parole shift and other major youth correction issues, such as redefining the CYA population, revamping programs in CYA to address basic offender needs and reconfiguring CYA institutions.
• $1.0 million to CYA hire a consultant firm to produce a detailed plan for future CYA populations, programs and facilities. The scope of work is heavily tilted toward producing a CYA facility plan that is consistent with Administration-preferred youth corrections models, and with future CYA populations and programs. The consultant would be selected by October 2005, with work to be completed by October 2006.
• $6.8 million for program changes to comply with remedial plans in the Farrell v. Allen litigation, in accordance with the consent decree and subsequent stipulations. The May Revision anticipates that additional state costs will become clear after additional remedial plans are filed with the Court in November.

Meanwhile, the Administration pulled back on plans to produce a major new juvenile justice reform plan or "vision" for California, along with the May Budget revision. This was a disappointment to many advocates and stakeholders who dedicated time to advisory group meetings on juvenile justice reform with the Youth and Adult Corrections Agency.

The reasons for the Administration's failure to produce a global juvenile justice reform plan on schedule are not clear. Possible explanations are: political trouble (e.g., with Republicans in the Legislature), union and employee problems, or simple unreadiness given all the other big-ticket items on the Governor's plate. The delay in announcing a major reform plan throws a wrench into the Legislative schedule. Senator Gloria Romero (D-LA) has two bills on CYA reform (SB 609, calling for the closure of the Chaderjian school and major program changes at other institutions; and SB 795, shifting parole responsibility for CYA wards to local probation). Senator Romero has been on hold, waiting to link her bills to the Administration's unveiling this May of a new California plan for juvenile justice reform. But now it is unclear how the Senator will react to the Administration's pullback of the reform plan, or what she will do with her bills in the current session

On May 16, Youth Authority met a court-mandated deadline for filing a general program description for Youth Authority reforms outlined in the Farrell v. Allen consent decree. But that plan did not contain any real surprises. In the main, the plan is a reiteration of widely accepted youth corrections principles. The specific changes revealed in the plan filed with the court include:

• A pledge to reduce unit size in CYA institutions to 35-40 (approaching nationally recommended standards), from 50 or more now
• Proposed raising of CYA staff-ward rations to 1:7 or 1:8
• Implementation of a long-overdue ward classification system, focused on risk assessment and institutional placement decisions that will reduce violence within CYA institutions.

The court filing can be reviewed on line at www.cya.ca.gov, or at the prison law office website (www.prisonlaw.com).