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Committee reviews juvenile custodial grievances report; supervisors press for appeal tracking and better follow‑up
Summary
The county Probation Department told the Public Safety & Justice Committee it received no appeals after grievance resolutions for July–December 2024, and supervisors asked for clearer documentation of grievance outcomes, appeals, and notice given to youth about their rights.
The Santa Clara County Public Safety & Justice Committee received a report on June 25 from the Probation Department summarizing juvenile custodial grievances for the period July 1–Dec. 31, 2024. Jill Ugalde, deputy chief for institutional services, presented the report with staff from the department’s research and development unit and answered supervisors’ questions about grievance outcomes and appeals.
Committee members focused on the proportion of youth who disagreed with grievance resolutions and whether dissatisfied youth pursued formal appeals. The report cites that 70% of youth at the hall agreed with proposed grievance resolutions, while 50% of youth at James Ranch reported agreement. Ugalde and her team said there were no formal appeals filed during the review period.
Probation described the grievance process: an initial written response is provided within three days, health‑and‑safety grievances are addressed immediately, and final resolution is targeted within 10 days. If a youth remains dissatisfied, the department conducts a hearing that can include witnesses; a manager reviews the case and issues a final decision. Ugalde said youth receive a youth guidance booklet that outlines the grievance and appeal process and staff discuss appeal rights with young people.
Supervisors asked Probation to clarify how the department follows up with youth who report dissatisfaction to ensure they know how to appeal and understand their options. Probation said it would need to return with more detailed follow‑up data on who proceeded through each step of the grievance and appeal process. Supervisor Lee also asked that future reports use a longer time series to show trends and preserve older records on the report for historical comparison.
Public commenter Xavier Espana, who said he had been detained in the juvenile hall about 10–15 years ago, told the committee that young people often hear in custody which staff are “cool” and which are not and said fear of retaliation can deter youths from filing grievances or pursuing appeals; he also said the appeal formality can be difficult for youth to navigate without legal help.
After discussion, the committee voted to receive the grievances report and directed Probation to return with follow‑up data showing who was initially satisfied, who remained dissatisfied, who initiated appeals, and the outcomes of those appeals.
