California Code of Regulations › Title 15 - Crime Prevention and Corrections › Division 3 - Adult Institutions, Programs and Parole › Chapter 1 - Rules and Regulations of Adult Operations and Programs › Subchapter 8 - Pilot Programs › Article 1 - Pilot Programs › Section 3999.30 - Youth Offender Program Camp Pilot Program at Growlersburg Conservation Camp

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
State of California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Memorandum
Date:
To: Associate Directors, Division of Adult Institutions
Wardens
Classification and Parole Representatives
Correctional Counselor Ills, Classification Staff
						Representatives
Correctional Case Records Managers
CAL FIRE
INSTRUCTIONAL MEMORANDUM
Subject:
YOUTH OFFENDER PROGRAM CAMP PILOT PROGRAM AT
						GROWLERSBURG CONSERVATION CAMP
PILOT PROGRAM
						PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to announce the
						implementation of the Youth Offender Program (YOP) Camp Pilot Program (CPP) at
						Growlersburg Conservation Camp (CC). The implementation of the YOP CPP affords youth
						offenders the opportunity to be housed at a lower security level than their
						placement score permits. The YOP CPP allows youth offenders who are currently
						ineligible for CC participation due to a Level-III placement score or a Violent
						Administrative Determinant (VIO AD), the opportunity to participate in the YOP
						CPP.
The YOP was established in 2014, pursuant to Assembly Bill
						1276, which enacted California Penal Code (PC) section
						2905, requiring the California
						Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR or department) to afford special
						classification consideration for every youth offender. Pursuant to PC section
						2905, a youth offender is defined as an
						individual under 22 years of age. CDCR defines a youth offender as an individual
						committed to the department who is 25 years of age or younger. While PC section
						2905 states that a youth offender is
						under 22 years of age, the department extends the opportunity for participation in
						the YOP to offenders between the ages of 22-25. The expanded age range affords these
						young offenders the opportunity to house at a lower security level for greater
						access to programs with the goal of increasing the likelihood of rehabilitation,
						during critical development stages in their life.
The purpose of the YOP CPP is to encourage youth offenders to
						commit to positive change and self-improvement with the goal of being law-abiding
						members of society upon release. By participating in the YOP CPP, youth offenders
						have the opportunity to receive valuable wildland firefighting training, which
						enhances their opportunities for future firefighting careers. In addition, pursuant
						to PC section 1203.4 b, an incarcerated individual
						who successfully participated in the California Conservation Camp program as a
						firefighter, and has been released from custody, may petition the court to withdraw
						a guilty plea or set aside a plea of guilty and dismiss the accusations or
						information against the offender and the offender shall thereafter be released from
						all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which they have been
						convicted, with some exceptions.
The order does not relieve the offender of the obligation to
						disclose the conviction on any questionnaire or application for licensure by the
						Commission on Teacher Credentialing, a Peace Officer, Public Office, or for
						contracting with the California State Lottery Commission. Additionally, incarcerated
						individuals who have been convicted of murder, kidnapping, rape, lewd acts on a
						child under 14, any felony punishable by death or imprisonment for life, any sex
						offense requiring registration pursuant to PC section
						290, escape from a secured perimeter
						within the previous 10 years, or arson, are automatically ineligible.
PILOT PROGRAM
						REQUIREMENTS
The YOP CPP at Growlersburg CC operates under the authority of
						Penal Code section
						5058.1 and affects
						no more than 10 percent of the total State offender population. The primary
						incentive of this pilot program is to allow youth offenders to be housed at a lower
						security level than their placement score permits.
PILOT PROGRAM LOCATION AND
						DURATION
The YOP CPP is located at Growlersburg CC, which is under
						operational administration of the Sierra Conservation Center (SCC). YOP participants
						shall be transferred to SCC for Fire Camp training prior to camp placement. The
						pilot program is in effect for 24 months following approval by the Office of
						Administrative Law, and expires by operation of law at the end of this period unless
						the pilot program is promulgated through the Administrative Procedure Act. If the
						pilot program is not promulgated through the Administrative Procedure Act, the Youth
						Offenders and Peer Mentors shall be returned to SCC for housing placement through
						Institutional Classification Committee (ICC).
PILOT PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND
						CRITERIA
The YOP CPP shall operate as a voluntary program under the
						authority of PC section
						2905. The YOP CPP allows Level II and
						III YOP offenders who are not currently eligible to participate in the CC program
						due to a VIO AD, the opportunity to participate in a camp program. The YOP
						candidates shall be under 26 years of age and possess a high school diploma or
						general equivalency degree. Offenders shall meet all other criteria established in
						the Youth Offender Program Camp Pilot Program at Growlersburg Conservation Camp
						Placement Criteria (Attachment A).
All eligible YOP offenders with Level II placement scores and
						a VIO AD; or Level III YOP offenders with or without a VIO AD may be reviewed for
						YOP CPP placement by an ICC, if no other minimum custody exclusionary criteria
						exists. ICC will note the violent conviction associated with the VIO AD and document
						the reason the inmate is eligible or ineligible for CPP placement based on the
						totality of the offender's case factors as they mitigate or aggravate the offender's
						suitability for placement in consideration of a previous history of violence,
						positive programming since incarceration and no history of violence since
						incarceration.
YOP offenders shall be assessed for YOP CPP eligibility during
						their annual review. If a YOP offender meets eligibility for and would like
						voluntary placement into the YOP CPP, they shall be referred to ICC during their
						annual committee review.
If the ICC grants placement, an Age Administrative Determinant
						(AGE AD) is required. If eligible, the counselor shall prepare to add the AGE AD
						Override in CDCR's Strategic Offender Management System (SOMS) in 'pending approval'
						status, noting in the Comments Section the reason for eligibility and refer the case
						to Classification Staff Representative (CSR) for endorsement. The AGE AD affords the
						youth offender the opportunity to receive an override for placement at a facility
						which is not in accordance with their placement score. YOP offenders with a Level IV
						placement score are excluded from CPP eligibility. For the purpose of this Pilot
						Program, ICC has the authority to refer YOP offenders with level III placement
						scores for the CPP. Offenders shall meet all criteria established in Attachment A to
						be a firefighter. No other CC policies, procedures, or exclusionary criteria change
						as a result of this Pilot Program Instructional Memorandum.
PILOT PROGRAM
						PROCEDURES
Any YOP offender who meets the aforementioned criteria and
						wishes to participate in the YOP CPP may be referred by the ICC, to be endorsed for
						transfer to SCC. Upon arrival at SCC, the offender shall be reviewed by the ICC for
						possible placement into the YOP CPP. SCC ICC shall note the sending institution's
						recommendation for camp placement, the AGE AD, the reasons for the referral of camp
						placement and shall approve or deny the camp placement.
YOP offenders deemed ineligible or denied placement into the
						YOP CPP due to their current placement score, academic needs, medical needs, Rules
						Violation Reports, or other mandated program assignment which precludes camp
						placement, shall be re-reviewed for YOP Camp Pilot Program placement upon completion
						of their mandated assignment, or at subsequent annual reviews under the age of
						26.
Should a YOP offender be deemed not appropriate for YOP CPP
						placement, the YOP offender shall be reviewed by the ICC and all exclusionary
						factors shall be thoroughly documented in the Classification Committee Chrono in
						SOMS.
PEER MENTORS AND
						ELIGIBILITY
Beyond regular programming for youth offenders, offenders 26
						years of age and older shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in this
						pilot program, by volunteering to become Peer Mentors. Benefits of being a Peer
						Mentor include strengthening their communication skills, making a pro-social impact
						in the prison environment, and serving as a resource to the youth offenders.
At designated YOP institutions the Every Student Succeeds Act
						(ESSA) teacher, or designee, shall train the YOP Peer Mentors utilizing the mentor
						curriculum consisting of 26 modules. Once the training is completed, the YOP Peer
						Mentor candidate participates in a 500-hour internship in education, where the
						candidate provides tutoring and mentorship to youth offenders who are assigned to
						education and other work training assignments. Once the 500-hour internship is
						completed, the YOP Peer Mentor candidate shall be certified and assigned as a YOP
						Peer Mentor.
Due to the length of time required to become a YOP Peer
						Mentor, only certified YOP Peer Mentors who have completed the required training
						will be considered for this Pilot Program. Only offenders with a Level I or Level II
						placement score may be assigned as a YOP Peer Mentor at Growlersburg CC. Offenders
						who have been previously excluded from CC opportunities due to placement score, a
						VIO AD, or both, may volunteer for the YOP Peer Mentor opportunity; however, all
						other existing camp placement criteria shall be met (refer to Attachment A).
A current YOP Peer Mentor, with a Level II placement score
						currently excluded from camp due to a VIO AD, who otherwise meets all other existing
						CC placement criteria, and wishes to participate in this YOP Camp Pilot Program may
						be reviewed by an ICC for transfer to SCC. YOP Peer Mentor offenders are assessed
						for YOP Camp eligibility during their annual reviews or when the ESSA teacher
						notifies the Correctional Counselor II of the Peer Mentor's certification and
						eligibility.
If ICC grants the placement of a Peer Mentor to Growlersburg
						CC, the Youth Offender Committee (YOC) AD is required. The counselor shall prepare
						to add the YOC AD Override in the SOMS in "pending approval" status, noting in the
						Comments Section the reason for eligibility and referring the case to the CSR for
						endorsement.
Upon arrival at SCC, the inmate shall be reviewed by an ICC
						for possible placement and participation in this YOP CPP as a Peer Mentor. SCC ICC
						shall note the sending institution's recommendation for camp placement, the reasons
						for the referral, and shall approve or deny the camp placement as a Peer
						Mentor.
No more than fifteen YOP Peer Mentors shall be assigned to
						Growlersburg CC. These YOP Peer Mentors may be assigned as firefighters or to
						non-grade positions, such as cooks or maintenance.
RESEARCH AND
						EVALUATION
The YOP CPP is a voluntary program designed to allow eligible
						youth offenders greater access to programs with the intent of increasing the
						likelihood of rehabilitation and decreasing recidivism. CDCR shall evaluate and
						assess the YOP CPP's effectiveness in achieving rehabilitative goals.
Growlersburg CC staff shall monitor and document any negative
						behavior, especially when the offender is to be assigned Off Reservation Work
						Details, such as grade projects or fire assignments. Staff shall document all
						disciplinary issues through the Rules Violation Report process in SOMS. Removal from
						the YOP CPP shall be documented and the offender shall be referred to ICC for
						review. If ICC removes the offender from the YOP Pilot Program, the counselor shall
						notate in the AGE or YOC AD Override comments section the reason for the removal and
						recommend placement at an institution consistent with the offender's case factors,
						and refer the case to the CSR for appropriate endorsement. Participation in the YOP
						CPP is voluntary. Any offender's requests to be removed from the YOP CPP shall be
						granted and documented on a CDC 128-B General Chrono and signed by the
						offender.
For the duration of the pilot program, CDCR shall evaluate and
						assess the program's effectiveness. Assessment of effectiveness shall be based upon
						the positive influence of the camp population. Additionally, camp staff are tasked
						to identify any issues involved with housing the YOP, the most common Rules
						Violation Reports generated, and any identified program changes or enhancements to
						be considered. The assessment also identifies which YOP participants successfully
						house and participate at camp as part of an inmate hand crew and are able to
						petition the court for felony expungement.
The results of the management reviews are shared with the
						Warden, Associate Director and CAL FIRE overseeing the YOP CPP. The results of all
						internal reviews may be utilized as supporting documentation for the development of
						future regulatory language.
If you have any questions regarding the YOP Pilot Program at
						Growlersburg CC, please contact Fred Money, Captain, Camp Liaison, Reception Centers
						Mission, at (916) 324-0756 or Fred.Money@cdcr.ca.gov.
DocuSigned by:
CONNIE GIPSON
Director
Division of Adult Institutions
Attachment
cc: Jared D. Lozano
Ron Davis
Patrick Eaton
Tracy Snyder
Fred Money
1. New section
						filed 7-27-2023, operative 7-27-2023 pursuant to Penal Code section
						5058.1(c).
						Submitted to OAL for filing with the Secretary of State and printing only pursuant
						10 Penal Code section
						5058.1(b).
						(Register 2023, No. 30). Section shall lapse by operation of law on July 27, 2025,
						pursuant to Penal Code section
						5058.1(d)
						unless formally adopted as a regulation pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
						section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
						2 of the Government Code.
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						  5058 and 5058.1,
						  Penal code. Reference: Section
						  5058, Penal Code.