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Juvenile Services

JUVENILE FACILITIES

JUVENILE HALL

Section 850 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code mandates every county Board of Supervisors to provide, maintain and fund a suitable house or place for the detention of wards of the juvenile court and of persons alleged to come within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Such house or place shall be known as the Juvenile Hall of the County.

Alameda County Juvenile Hall is a 24-hour secure detention facility capable of housing 358 minors. Located on county property in San Leandro, CA, the facility is staffed by Juvenile Institutional Officers who supervise the minors and are responsible for their care, custody and control. Juvenile Hall is a temporary holding facility for minors awaiting court and is operated in accordance with the regulations set forth in the California Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities, Title 15. Services include but are not limited to academic programming, medical and behavioral health care, organized recreation, religious and volunteer services and programming facilitated by a complement of community-based organizations. Services within the Juvenile Hall include:

Mental Health Services are provided in the youth living units by Alameda County Health Care Services Agency clinicians. Behavioral Health Care Services also provides crisis intervention services, individual therapy, psychotropic medication evaluations and monitoring of youth on psychotropic medications.

The Alameda County Office of Education operates a fully accredited high school program within the Juvenile Hall, The Butler Academy. Upon completion of their high school diploma or GED, youth have the opportunity to earn transferable college credits via online courses through a partnership with Merritt College.

Children's Hospital and Research Center of Oakland operates a 24-hour medical clinic to provide round the clock medical assessments, support and care to the youth.

In response to the growing numbers of youth booked into Alameda County's Juvenile Hall, the Probation Department instituted strategies to reduce the number of admissions. A comprehensive risk assessment tool was introduced to determine which young offenders were appropriate for detention and which could be safely managed without detention prior to and during their court proceedings. Current detention alternatives include Home Supervision and use of GPS devices for youth released from Juvenile Hall during the adjudication process.

 

Write to Read Program: Local and renowned authors inspire youth to read, learn and change their lives. The program provides relevant, informative, high-quality books, which are available for check out by the youth in classrooms and housing units.

Library: Partnership with Alameda County Library to maintain and operate the library services in the facilities as well as coordinate with nationally recognized authors to come present to the youth.

Reading and Homework Hour: Volunteers from the community come in and help youth work on their reading skills with the goal of improving the young people's academic abilities and forging meaningful relationships between the youth at Juvenile Hall and responsible adults.

Mind Body Awareness Program: Mindfulness-based techniques are taught through meditation and yoga to the detained youth.           

The Beat Within: Creative writing workshops are conducted resulting in a magazine    that features the work of the participating youth.

Youth Programming at the JJC also includes:

  1. Community College Programming
    1. From Incarceration to College
    2. Student Extended Education Program (SEEP) for High School Graduates
  2. K-12 Education
  3. Online, on Demand Instruction (Coursera and Udemy)
  4. Learning Tablets
  5. Religious Services
  6. Anger Management
  7. Family Intervention/Restoration
    1. Family Spring
  8. Parenting/Fathering
    1. Fatherhood Program
  9. Gender Responsive Cognitive Behavior Therapy
    1. Find Your Voice
  10. Culturally Responsive Cognitive Behavior Therapy
  11. Substance Abuse Disorder Programming
  12. Gang Intervention
  13. Music Appreciation,Therapy and Education
    1. Destiny Arts
    2. Drum Program
  14. Mentoring and Life Skills
  15. College Tutoring
  16. Restorative Justice Programming
  17. Civic and Social Engagement
  18. Financial Literacy
  19. Vocational Training
    1. Construction Training
    2. Culinary Science
  20. Health and Wellness Programming
    1. Barber & Beautician Services
    2. Dance & Physical Fitness
    3. Yoga

Pending Program Implementation

  1. Diversity Equity and Inclusion
  2. Credible Messenger Programming

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

This federal program is intended to provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions while providing information, resources, recommendations, and funding to protect individuals.

The Alameda County Probation Department (ACPD) is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and humane environment for the youth housed at the Facilities. To create and sustain such an environment, the ACPD maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual misconduct involving youth.

I. Principle

The Alameda County Probation Department (ACPD) is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and humane environment free from any act of sexual abuse and sexual harassment involving youth-on-youth or adult-on-youth. To create and sustain such an environment, the ACPD maintains a zero-tolerance policy in accordance with the Federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA).

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CAMP WILMONT SWEENEY

Camp Wilmont Sweeney is a 50-bed minimum security residential program for adolescent males ranging in age from 15 through 21. Camp Sweeney is in the process of implementing a level-based treatment program model that emphasizes change, growth, and progress. Deputy Probation Officers work with the youth to develop individualized treatment plans that include goals related to specific behavioral and educational needs as well as aftercare plans. The overall goal is to return each youth to their community as a positive and productive member of the public. Camp Sweeney functions as a local sanction for the Juvenile Court and is administrated by the Alameda County Probation Department. The program is strengthened by the partnerships with the Alameda County Office of Education, the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency, local community-based providers, and supportive volunteers.

Special Programs and Services for Camp Sweeney Residents include:

  • Restorative Justice programming
  • Re-entry planning
  • Individual counseling
  • Parent education and support groups
  • Anger management and violence prevention programs
  • Gang awareness and prevention programs
  • Substance Use Disorder treatment and education programming
  • Life skills development programming
  • Mentoring

Tutoring

  • Multi Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Construction Training
  • Employment and internship programs
  • Structured recreational and social activities
  • Religious Services
  • Community College access
  • Planned and supervised off-grounds activities
  • Temporary home passes
  • Expanded Gardening Program 
  • Therapeutic Canine Program (2023)
Deputy Chief

Shauna Conner

Deputy Chief Probation Officer

SB823

Senate Bill 823