HomeMy WebLinkAbout0427.0914)~
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Septe~er 19, 1991
THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto, California
Members of the Council:
Report in Brief
'rhis is an informational report and no council action is re.q1lired.
The Police Department implemented a Juvenile Diversion Proqram in
1.990. This report provides a hr ief history of the prc.qram' S
origination and results of the initial 18 months of operation.
Background.
During 1989, the Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department
(JPD) expressed concerns about the increasing numbe~ of juvenile
referrals fi:'om police agencies throughout the County. Juvenile
Hall was evercrowded and the probation staff ',r/as faced with a
larqer workload than they could adequately handle. JPD received
6,140 referrals durinq 1990 and 6. 533 referral~ during 19S11 .
.Juvenile Hall has 329 bot:!ds.. lSnc for ttl:: last se ..... eral yea!"s ~"1.a
occupancy rate has consistently exceeded that nu~bar.
The overcro~din9 situation, together
conditions., 'Was confinned in :a report
Juvenile Hall prepared ~y the Santa Clara
1990.
-with gene_ral unsanitary
on living conditions at
county Crand Jury in May,
Local police aqeneies ~ere asked to seek alternatives to
incarceration for juveniles. As a result, the Palo Alto Police
Department develor-ed ar.d implew.ent.ed a Juvenile Divers.ion Program
in March 1390.
Pregr... §ummary
The intent of the program is to de~l ~t the local level ~ith Palo
Alto residents under the aqe of 18 who are first-time offenaers and
who have been ~rrested for 3 misdemeanor offense.
CHR;427:Sll
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Paqe Two
The program consists of a 90-minute class held once a month. The
~ffende~5' parents are ,equire~ to attend a class taught by a Palo
Alto police officer. The curriculum includes role playing, guest
spe.&k.ers who are usually convicte~ California. Youth Authority
offenders wh.o describe their personal experie.r.ces. l\nd discussion
on positive alternatives. In addition to attending th6 class, the
first time offender performs a mi~imum of eight hours of cObmunity
service which includes such tasks as pai~ting, refuse collection,
and assisting comm~nity based organizations. If tne offense is
alcohol related, the offender is referred to the Community He~lth
Awareness Council in MO'.mtain View for counseling.
Upon succe.ssful t::ompletion of the progra.m, the criminal case
against the first time offender is retained at the Palo Alto Police
Department and not forwa.rded to county juvenile authorities. If,
however, a subsequent offense is co~~itted within two years, both
cases are forwarded to County authorities.
DUring 1990, the Palo Alto Police Department arrested 368
juveniles. One hundred! ifty-eight 9iere Palo Alto re:sidents and 90
were giv~n the opportunity to participate in the Juvenile Diversion
Program.
Since the beginning of the program} nine diversion classes have
been held and a total of 90 youths have participated. To date 85
of these 510 youths have had no subsequent enforcement related
contacts with the Palo Alto Police. These statistics compare to an
&0 perceet statewide recidivism rate reported by the California
Youth Authority, for those juvenile offenders 'Who were not afforded
the opportunity provided by a oiversion program.
COllclu:sioD
Staff believes that the Juvenile Diversion Program has proven suc
cessful at educating first time offenders about the consequences of
their actions without interv~ntion br county juvenile auttlt:lrlties.
As the pra<;ram continues, participants in the proqr3m will be
monitored to ensure continued success~
Re~VelY ibm~~)d'
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CH...~I S DURKIN
Pollee Chief
CMR:427:91
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