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SD. 9

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	May 5, 2009

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 0905 ENTITLED "COUNTY YOUTH REHABILITATION CENTER IS ON LIFE SUPPORT, IT'S TIME TO PULL THE PLUG"

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/05/2009

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

See Addendum for details

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	JULIE ENEA (925) 335-1077
cc:	County Probation Officer County Administrator (Enea) Presiding Judge of the Superior Court Grand Jury Foreperson and Presiding Judge Juvenile Justice Commission Juvenile Court Judge

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 5, 2009
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE response to Civil Grand Jury Report No. 0905, entitled “County Youth Rehabilitation Center is on Life Support, It’s Time to Pull the Plug” and DIRECT the Clerk of the Board to forward the response to the Superior Court no later than June 9, 2009.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None. This is an informational report.

BACKGROUND:

On March 11, 2009, the 2008/2009 Civil Grand Jury filed the above-referenced report, which was reviewed by the Board of Supervisors and subsequently referred to the County Administrator, who with the County Probation Officer, Sheriff-Coroner, and Health Services Director, collaborated to prepare the attached response that clearly specifies:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Whether a finding or recommendation is accepted or will be implemented;

If a recommendation is accepted, a statement as to who will be responsible for implementation and by what definite target date'

A delineation of the constraints if a recommendation is accepted but cannot be implemented within a six-month period; and

The reason for not accepting or adopting a finding or recommendation.

CLERK'S ADDENDUM

Julie Enea, County Administrator’s Office, presented the staff report. She said the response includes a preface to provide better context for the County’s responses.

Lionel Chatman, County Probation Officer, said he was taken aback by the Grand Jury's report. He said that our responsibility lies in the rehabilitation of youth and said a detention facility is not an appropriate place for children.

Chair Bonilla invited public comment. The following people spoke:

The Honorable Judge Lois Haight, Contra Costa County Superior Court; Orin Allen, founder and youth advocate; Dr. Micheal K. Grimes, Advocacy for Children; William Doerlich, resident of San Ramon; Rick Galvin, Cell to Cross; Dennis Carter, resident of Oakley; Skip Bergeron, Cell to Cross; John Corgiet, resident of Walnut Creek; Bob Viator, resident of Walnut Creek; Harvey Samuels, Rossmoor Senior Tutors, Juvenile Justice System; Paul Phillips, Rossmoor Senior Tutors; Susan Grice, Late Show Readers at Juvenile Hall; Sonora M. Napell; Gregory Osoiro, resident of Pittsburg; Marge Hergert, President Discovery Bay Gardening Club; Rollie Katz, Public Employees' Union Local 1; Kris Hunt, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association; Rebecca Ferguson, Discovery Bay Garden Club.

The following people provided written comments:

Thomas G. Blomberg, Dean and Sheldon L. Messinger Professor of Criminology, Florida State University; Aaron Baker, Chief, Pittsburg Police Department; Orin T. Allen, Sr.

All the Supervisors expressed their support for the continued operation of the Orin Allan Youth Ranch Facility and dismay with the Grand Jury’s approach, which they felt to be searching for monetary savings rather than the appropriate care of the children. The said the report sought to find problems without meaningful research or acknowledgment of the benefits and accomplishments of the program.

Supervisor Piepho requested that response to Item No. 7 (page 5) be clarified to read "partially agree" with the finding; that for Item No. 1 of the recommendations (page 8), the second sentence be clarified to note it is an annual reference versus a one-time expense; and that Item No. 4 should highlight what the actual cost of closing the facility would be, with recognition of the human aspect as well as monetary.