JUVENILE FACILITIES

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:

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.

Camp Wilmot Sweeney is a 50-bed minimum security residential program for adolescent males ranging in age from 15 through 19. 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 minor to his community as a positive and productive citizen. 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 (Late 2022)
• Therapeutic Canine Program (2023)

Building a new Camp Sweeney meets the County's 10X goal pathway of a Crime Free County in support of the county's shared vision of a Thriving & Resilient Population and Safe & Livable Communities.

Our Vision of a new Camp Sweeney, a Youth Development and Education Center, focused on academic and rehabilitative opportunities for the affected youth. The services include:

• Family Engagement and Reunification
• Comprehensive Vocational and Career Technical Education
  • Post-Secondary Education
    • College and Career Readiness
  • Prepare youth for the careers of the 21^st Century
    • Coding
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Solar Engineering
    • Robotics
    • STEM Curriculum
  • Positive Youth Development
  • Life Skills and Evidence-Based Cognitive Behavioral Programming
  • Balanced and Restorative Justice

Alameda County Juvenile Hall is a 24-hour secure detention facility capable of housing 358 minors. Located on Alameda County property, the facility is staffed by Juvenile Institutional Officers who supervise the youth and are responsible for their care, custody, and control.

Pursuant to Senate Bill 823 (2020), in 2021, ACPD opened a state mandated Secure Track program which provides custody housing for youth previously sentenced to the Division of Juvenile Justice within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Youth Programming at the JJC includes:

1. Community College Programming
2. K-12 Education
3. Online, on Demand Instruction (Coursera and Udemy)
4. 4.Learning Tablets
5. Anger Management
6. Gender Responsive Cognitive Behavior Therapy
7. Substance Abuse Disorder Programming
8. Gang Intervention
9. Music Appreciation
10. Mentoring and Life Skills
11. College Leve Tutoring
12. Restorative Justice Programming

Beginning in 2023

1. Family Intervention/Restoration
2. Parenting/Fathering
3. Technology (Software Coding)
4. Civic and Social Engagement
5. Diversity Equity and Inclusion
6. MC3 Construction Training
7. Credible Messenger Programming
8. Health and Wellness Programming

The Transition Center (TC), under the leadership of the Alameda County Probation Department, is a collaboration of partners, who stand in alignment with the Vision 2023 mission to support and restore communities. The Transition Center empowers youth, families, and their caregivers by removing barriers to success and connecting them to supportive resources and healthy alternatives in the community.

The Transition Center, with the Probation Department as the lead agency, works in partnership with Alameda County Office of Education, the Center for Healthy Schools and Communities, Oakland Unified School District, Oakland Unite, Alameda County Behavioral Health, and Alameda County Public Health.

Engaging in the Juvenile Justice system is emotionally difficult for our youth and families.  The process lends itself to feelings of being helpless and hopeless. In the summer of 2017, the Transition Center redesigned its physical space and daily operating procedures, emphasizing family focused and trauma-informed processes. Probation wanted to create a space where youth and families can decompress from the pressure of Court and waiting for their youth’s release from custody. The Transition Center is equipped with two confidential conference rooms furnished with computers, telephones, and current community resources and events; a smart curved television with educational and inspiring programming; fresh fruit and filtered water. The tranquil design of the Transition Center houses a mosaic mural created by Camp Wilmont Sweeney youth in partnership with Community Works West reflecting their Spirit Animals, and a mirrored “reflecting tree” to inspire feelings of hope and inspiring dreams. The warm and inviting lobby is surrounded by calming wall colors, soothing carpet, and comfortable seating with USB charging capacity. 

Supporting our youth’s ability to successfully reintegrate to their community and homes underpinned the changes to the Transition Center’s model. A “warm handoff” begins with the team beginning each youth’s release reentry process within one business day of their arrival into juvenile hall. Probation meets with every youth and their caregiver to evaluate stabilization needs. Accentuating continuity of care the Transition Center joins the treatment services provided while youth are detained to compatible services in the community. The Transition Center provides linkages to vocational training; referrals to counseling and/or mentoring services when appropriate. Probation has committed to addressing all the stabilizing needs of a family and now provides concrete service such as transportation and food vouchers; relocation supports, clothing, school supplies, and household items.  After meeting with collaborative partners, a comprehensive transition plan is completed and given to the youth and family to increase their understanding of all referrals and supports. Post-release contact with the youth and their caregivers allows the TC team to assess the effectiveness of current referrals and additional areas of need. With interagency collaboration, our customized database now provides measurable outcomes. 

The Transition Center continues to move forward in their essential role of the developing partnership between the Probation Department and the youth and families served.

The Alameda County Probation Department’s (ACPD) Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Program was developed following the passage of Senate Bill 1004, which requires the Superior Court to grant Deferred Entry of Judgment (DEJ) to eligible defendants as outlined in Penal Code Section §1000.7.

The TAY Program seeks to divert young adults (Ages 18–24) from the criminal justice system by offering tailored, collaborative services based on each participant's strengths and needs. ACPD understands that the transition into adulthood may be impacted by an individual’s ability to secure employment, locate housing or access post-secondary education services. The program provides participants with the opportunity to access needed services and earn a dismissal of their charges by the criminal court.

TAY is a voluntary one year program with three phases. Services are initially provided in juvenile hall (approximately 30-45 days) with the remainder of the program occurring in the community under the supervision of a probation officer.