Juvenile intake center reports rising intakes, 96% completion for diversion program

Mario Salinas, deputy director for juvenile programs, told commissioners the juvenile intake and assessment center averaged about 145 intakes per month in SFY 25 (up from about 130) and that roughly 75 percent of youth are released to the community after intake. He said every youth who needed services received a referral and the county met its goal of a 67 percent initiation rate, achieving about 70 percent.

Salinas highlighted the immediate intervention program (IIP), a 16-week voluntary diversion program run in coordination with the district attorney's office, reporting a 96 percent successful completion rate against a 90 percent target.

Commissioners questioned how the county tracks youth who do not engage in referrals (about 30 percent) and asked for counts on juveniles detained on firearm-related charges; Salinas said the county has data on repeat intakes, weapons-related detentions (staff estimated about 150''00 annually), and agreed to provide further breakdowns.

"So far on average for state fiscal year '25, we had to average a 145 intakes per month," Salinas said. "Of the youth that come in, our ultimate goal is to provide an intake and an assessment, identifying the risk factors...and then make those referrals."