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Probation chief urges support for juvenile justice funding and SB 1157 to fill gaps after DJJ closure
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Summary
Chief Probation Officer Jeff Thompson told the board the county has released an RFP for youth prevention grants and urged support for funding Prop 36 and for SB 1157, which would set standards for less restrictive placements and restore access to state psychiatric beds for youth in crisis.
Chief Probation Officer Jeff Thompson told the Board of Supervisors that the probation department received 11 proposals in response to a request for youth prevention programs and expects to recommend awards from a $150,000 pool of grants (five $10,000 one‑year awards and two $25,000 two‑year awards).
Thompson explained that Proposition 36, though approved by voters, has not been funded by the governor and that counties face implementation challenges if funding is not provided. He also described recent state cuts to pretrial funding and the local impact on probation services, noting an estimated local reduction of roughly $10,000 per year tied to pretrial funding changes.
On legislation, Thompson outlined Senate Bill 1157 (listed in the transcript as SB 11 57), which would establish minimum standards for "less restrictive placements" (LRPs) used when youth are stepped down from secure facilities. He said SB 1157 would require background checks, minimum program standards, notification to local governments, and improved access to state psychiatric beds for youth in acute mental‑health crisis — gaps he said emerged when the state closed the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Thompson asked the board to consider supporting letters for Prop 36 funding, reinstatement of pretrial funds, and SB 1157. Supervisors asked clarifying questions about whether LRPs are operated by private entities and whether counties have flexibility to create their own step‑down programs.
