Senate Bill 823 - DJJ Realignment Implementation

For nearly two decades, California has enacted a series of legislative and voter-approved measures designed to reduce commitments of youth to the state juvenile and adult systems by reducing reliance on incarceration and expanding community-based options for youth. To further reach this goal, the state has aligned the responsibility for managing all youth under the jurisdiction of the juvenile courts pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 to local jurisdictions.

To support the successful implementation of this transition and on-going programing and interventions, the State established effective July 1, 2021, the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) within the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS). OYCR will be responsible for (1) developing a report on youth outcomes; (2) identifying policy recommendations for improved outcomes and integrated programs and services to best support delinquent youth; (3) identifying and disseminating best practices to help inform rehabilitative and restorative youth practices, including education, diversion, re-entry, religious and victims’ services; and (4) providing technical assistance as requested to develop and expand local youth diversion opportunities to meet the varied needs of the delinquent youth population, including but not limited to sex offender, substance abuse, and mental health treatment. OYCR will also fulfill statutory obligations of an Ombudsperson. For more information, go to: https://www.chhs.ca.gov/oycr/

The BSCC will continue to establish regulations and inspect county facilities holding people under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court pursuant to the California Welfare and Institutions Code sections 209, 210, 875, & 885.