Board approves concept ordinance to allow ‘Redwoods Coastal Academy’ at juvenile hall despite community opposition

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on March 11 to approve in concept an ordinance authorizing the county to classify part of Juvenile Hall as a camp program, to be named Redwoods Coastal Academy, allowing the county to accept court-ordered camp placements locally instead of sending youth out of county.

Why it matters: Supporters, including Probation Department leaders, said serving youth locally keeps them closer to family, allows better reintegration planning and saves the county money compared with out‑of‑county placements. Opponents — a broad coalition of youth-service organizations, parents and residents — urged the board to invest instead in community-based, “least restrictive” alternatives, saying a repurposed cellblock will perpetuate incarceration and worsen racial disparities.

Probation leaders framed the step as pragmatic: court judges can and do order camp placements whether or not the county offers them locally, they told the board. The department said low juvenile detention numbers and existing staff capacity make it feasible to run a local camp (no new building). Assistant Chief Probation Officer Valerie Thompson said the average camp stay runs six to nine months and that keeping youth local improves family engagement and reentry planning. Juvenile Division Director Jose Flores said a county program would cost much less than sending youth to programs that charge $150–$522 per day.

Community opposition was extensive and sustained. More than 25 speakers from Milpa, Barrios Unidos, CASA, neighborhood groups and individuals with lived experience said a facility in Felton or a converted juvenile hall cellblock is not a community-based or homelike option, and expressed fear it would widen the net of incarceration for Black and Latino youth. Several speakers asked the board to delay and redirect funds to proven community alternatives already operating in Watsonville and other neighborhoods.

Board reaction and next steps: Supervisors emphasized that the county’s goal is to minimize detention use. Several members asked probation to expand community engagement and to return with more detail on costs and how any savings would be deployed. Supervisor Koenig, who moved the recommended actions, said the proposal offers a local option that could reduce out-of-county placements and yield savings that can be reinvested. The board directed staff to place the ordinance on the March 11, 2025 agenda for final adoption and to continue community outreach; the ordinance was advanced in concept at today’s hearing.

Ending: The ordinance approval is an in‑concept, procedural step; county staff and the probation department will return with implementation details, conditions, and monitoring plans and continue outreach with community providers and families.