Committee hears report on juvenile custodial use‑of‑force incidents; community groups call for reduced reliance on juvenile hall

The Public Safety & Justice Committee on June 25 received a report from the Probation Department on use‑of‑force incidents in juvenile custodial settings for July 1–Dec. 31, 2024. Jill Ugalde, deputy chief for institutional services, presented the report and answered questions about the department’s investigation process, evidence sources and review timelines.

Probation said referrals alleging excessive force can come from any staff member, medical personnel, teachers, attorneys, parents, other youth or the youth themselves. When an allegation is made, staff pull recorded video and conduct an internal review; the department also notifies the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff for independent review when warranted. Probation told the committee it does not use body‑worn cameras; facilities have stationary video cameras in corridors and units that are reviewed as part of investigations.

Chief Probation Officer Nick Burchard said investigations begin immediately and are actively investigated while administrative findings can take longer — up to a year in cases that are awaiting criminal proceedings — because administrative processes are sometimes placed on hold pending criminal investigations. He and other probation staff said medical staff and behavioral health workers also can initiate reviews if they observe injuries or other indicators.

Members of the public urged more systemic change. Andrew Bigelow and Alicia Chavez of Silicon Valley De‑Bug said the juvenile hall’s design and culture mirror adult jails and contribute to elevated use‑of‑force rates; they recommended moving more youth into community‑based programs close to families and schools. Public commenters and supervisors also raised concerns that youths may avoid reporting force incidents due to fear of retaliation and recommended clearer, accessible reporting options.

Supervisors requested that Probation provide a clear, documented flowchart of the department’s use‑of‑force investigation process (who receives referrals, what evidence is collected, which external agencies are notified, and expected timelines) and to include the actual materials youth receive explaining how to file appeals when they disagree with case outcomes. Probation agreed to return with those materials and a written description of the investigation process.

The committee voted to receive the report and added the requested documentation as follow‑up direction.