California Code of Regulations › Title 9 - Rehabilitative and Developmental Services › Division 6 - Division of Juvenile Justice › Chapter 2 - Treatment, Education, and Career Development › Article 7 - Young Adult Program › Section 30185 - Pilot Program-Young Adult Program

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
INSTRUCTIONAL MEMORANDUM
Date:
November 28, 2018
To:
Superintendents
Assistant Superintendents
Associate Directors
Executive Officer, Board of Juvenile Hearings
Subject:
PILOT PROGRAM--YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM
The purpose of this memorandum is to announce the implementation
					 of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile
					 Justice (Division), Young Adult Program at the O. H. Close Youth Correctional
					 Facility. The Young Adult Program will provide a limited number of young adult males
					 the opportunity to serve their sentence in a juvenile facility instead of an adult
					 prison. The purpose of this program is to provide these young men with
					 developmentally appropriate treatment and rehabilitative programming, designed
					 specifically for transition-aged youth, with the goal of improving their
					 reintegration outcomes and reduce their risk to recidivate. This program will
					 include the evaluation of good conduct, milestone completion, rehabilitative
					 achievement, and educational merit credits earned, as well as disciplinary
					 infractions incurred by participants, with the ultimate goal of determining if the
					 target population is more successful than an equivalent population housed in the
					 Division of Adult Institutions. The program will include a research component that
					 will assist in the evaluation of the cost effectiveness, recidivism data,
					 consistency with evidence-based principles, and program fidelity.
This memorandum defines the criteria for placement in the
					 program, program components and structure, and establishes the overall goal of
					 applying and enhancing the Division's policies and practices for future admissions
					 of transitioned-aged youth (youth).
BACKGROUND
Section
					 1731.7
					 of the Welfare and Institutions Code requires the Division to
"establish and
					 operate a seven-year pilot program for transition-age youth. Commencing on or after
					 January 1, 2019, the program shall divert a limited number of transitioned-age youth
					 from adult prison to a juvenile facility in order to provide developmentally
					 appropriate, rehabilitative programming designed for transition-aged youth with the
					 goal of improving their outcomes and reducing recidivism."
Youth ages 18 to 25, involved in the program, will benefit from
					 evidence-based treatment programs designed to lower risks related to criminal
					 thinking and behaviors, develop protective factors to maintain lowered risks upon
					 reentry into the community, and increase opportunities for long-term success. The
					 young men will gain these benefits through treatment interventions, expanded college
					 and career technical education, and community building within the facility. This
					 includes the involvement of former offenders as mentors and programs that will help
					 youth practice pro-social skills and create valuable connections to resources in
					 their communities.
Through individualized treatment, the Division provides an
					 integrated, behavioral health model to address identified risks to reoffend and
					 protective factors to mitigate those risks. Interventions and services are matched
					 to individual needs through analysis of assessment data and collaborative case
					 planning. An inter-disciplinary, integrated team approach is used that includes the
					 program participant and members of the therapeutic community, the participant's
					 family and adult support system when applicable, living unit staff, education staff,
					 mental health staff, any other direct-care staff, and community representatives as
					 identified.
Through this model, interpersonal social emotional skill
					 strategies and techniques are taught, modeled and reinforced in a safe practice
					 environment in order to increase stress management, self-monitoring and regulation.
					 All of these are vital in helping youth successfully transition into adulthood.
					 These skills are essential in assisting youth with increasing their strengths and
					 developing positive outcomes.
Studies have concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy has
					 been found to be effective with juvenile and adult offenders, substance abusing and
					 violent offenders, as well as probationers, prisoners, and parolees. Researchers
					 have found that cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in various criminal
					 justice settings and can significantly reduce recidivism, even among high-risk
					 offenders. Other research has explored modalities of treatment with juveniles and
					 found group therapy to be effective, as well as social skills training, behavioral
					 programs, and teaching interpersonal skills. The Division's programs incorporate
					 aspects of these modalities in combination with the effectiveness of cognitive
					 behavioral therapy techniques and theory.
PILOT PROGRAM LOCATION AND
					 DURATION
The Young Adult Program will be implemented at the O. H. Close
					 Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton. The program will be in effect for seven
					 years, following approval by the Office of Administrative Law, and will expire by
					 operation of law at the end of this period, unless it is promulgated through the
					 Administrative Procedure Act prior to expiration.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Superintendent of the O.H. Close Youth Correctional
					 Facility, along with the Associate Director of Juvenile Acceptance and Court
					 Services, will be jointly responsible for implementation and oversight of the Young
					 Adult Program.
Two 38 bed units will provide youth with developmentally
					 appropriate, evidence-based programming in a therapeutic community environment. The
					 primary objectives of the program include:
* Addressing treatment needs in a safe and secure environment
					 that is separate from long-term, criminally sophisticated adult offenders.
* Providing individualized, evidence-based, and promising
					 interventions, as well as education, vocational, and employment
					 opportunities.
* Promoting the development of pro-social attitudes, values, and
					 beliefs leading to more pro-social behaviors.
* Providing the opportunity to learn and reinforce a variety of
					 skills such as problem solving, self-regulation, coping skills, and behavior
					 management.
* Fostering the development of healthy interpersonal
					 relationships.
* Preparing for family reunification and transition to the
					 community.
* Reducing the risk to recidivate.
To accomplish the objectives, the program will consist of eight
					 components that include an initial assessment period, treatment interventions,
					 individualized counseling, education and career technical training, enriching
					 experiences, family involvement, behavior management, case management, and re-entry
					 planning.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Placement Criteria
Upon transfer from juvenile to superior court, the juvenile
					 probation will forward to the Division an informational packet for all young adult
					 males who allegedly committed an offense before the age of 18 and the offense is
					 listed in Welfare and Institutions Code Section
					 707(b).
					 These cases will be screened on a case-by-case basis for preliminary acceptance into
					 the program.
Upon completion of adult court action, the cases that were
					 preliminarily accepted shall be forwarded to the Division for final acceptance. The
					 final acceptance decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Offenders referred to the Division, pursuant to Welfare and
					 Institutions Code Section
					 1731.7,
					 may be accepted for the program if they meet the following criteria:
* The offender was age 18-21 when sentenced.
* The sentence imposed results in an earliest release date prior
					 to the offender's 25th birthday.
* When determining an earliest release date, program credit
					 earnings for projected Good Conduct Credit, Milestone Completion Credits and
					 Rehabilitative Achievement Credits may be applied.
* The offender has the ability to materially benefit from
					 rehabilitative programming.
* Adequate facilities, treatment services, and staff are
					 available to provide required care.
* Release dates will be re-assessed annually to determine
					 continued age eligibility.
The Division's Director may order a youth in the program to the
					 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Adult
					 Institutions if the youth:
* Fails to participate in rehabilitative opportunities as
					 directed, including treatment interventions, academic education, career technical
					 education, or employment.
* Engages in behavior that jeopardizes the safety and security
					 of others or the facility.
* Exhibits mental health or medical issues requiring a level of
					 care exceeding that which can be provided in the program.
Staffing
Each living unit will be staffed with a treatment team
					 consisting of a Supervising Casework Specialist or Treatment Team Supervisor,
					 Clinical Psychologist, Parole Agent I, Casework Specialist, Senior Youth
					 Correctional Counselor, Youth Correctional Officers, and Youth Correctional
					 Counselors.
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
Initial Assessments
Each youth will complete an initial assessment process upon
					 entrance into O. H. Close Youth Correctional Facility. The process will include
					 screenings and assessments by medical, dental, mental health, and education staff.
					 One of the primary assessments to be completed is the California Youth Assessment
					 Screening Instrument (CA-YASI). This instrument will assess the youth's criminogenic
					 risks, needs, and strengths. An Initial Case Plan will be developed for each youth
					 utilizing the assessment results.
Upon completion of the initial assessment period, the youth will
					 participate in an Initial Case Conference facilitated by the Supervising Casework
					 Specialist or Treatment Team Supervisor, during which the current treatment needs
					 will be confirmed and the initial case plan reviewed.
Treatment Interventions
Youth will participate in treatment interventions that rely upon
					 a cognitive behavioral treatment approach. Interventions will focus on pro-social
					 attitudes, thinking skills, and positive peer relationships; skill-building
					 activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skills
					 development; consideration of other people's perspectives and rights; and skills to
					 control anger and aggression.
Individualized Counseling
Staff will work with youth to establish their individualized
					 pro-social behavioral goals with action steps to achieve those goals.
Education and Career Technical Training
Youth who have not obtained a high school diploma or high school
					 equivalency exam certificate will receive education and vocational training in the
					 facility's main school. Youth will have the opportunity to earn one or more of the
					 following: high school diploma; high school equivalency exam certificate; career
					 technical education certificate; and college credits.
Enriching Experiences
Youth will have the opportunity to learn job skills through work
					 experience in volunteer and paid positions within the facility. Additionally, youth
					 will participate in extra-curricular activities led by staff and community
					 volunteers, such as art programs, team sports, special event assemblies, support
					 groups, and fund raising events.
Family Involvement
When approved by the facility and youth, families will have the
					 opportunity to engage in weekly visitation and other family activities. Families may
					 also be actively involved in treatment and case planning through the case conference
					 process and through the Individual Education Planning meetings.
Behavior Management
The program will utilize a comprehensive behavior management
					 system designed to motivate and reinforce targeted, pro-social behaviors and
					 discourage anti-social behaviors.
Case Management
A youth's progress will be regularly reviewed and assessed by
					 the treatment team through the case conference process. Through collaboration with
					 the youth, the youth's family or support system, and the treatment team, the youth's
					 case plan will be monitored and revised to encourage a positive lifestyle and reduce
					 the likelihood of further delinquent behavior.
Re-entry Planning
The facility Re-entry Coordinator will provide services and work
					 with the youth on transition planning. The Division's standardized re-entry process
					 ensures every youth leaving the Division has a plan that connects the youth to
					 resources and opportunities in the community, thereby helping the youth to maintain
					 a lower risk to recidivate and to pursue positive life goals.
RESEARCH AND
					 EVALUATION
The Division shall monitor implementation of the program. The
					 Division shall also contract with an independent university or outside research
					 organization to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. At a minimum, the
					 evaluation will include cost-effectiveness, recidivism data, consistency with
					 evidence-based principles, and program fidelity.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact
					 Christienne Sanders, Associate Director, at christienne.sanders@cdcr.ca.gov.
/s/
CHUCK SUPPLE
Director
Division of Juvenile Justice
1. Change without
					 regulatory effect adopting article 7 (section
					 30185) and renumbering title 15, section
					 4199 to title 9, section
					 30185 filed 2-13-2020 pursuant to
					 section 100, title 1, California Code of
					 Regulations (Register 2020, No. 7).
Note: Authority cited: Section
						5058.1, Penal Code;
						and Sections
						1712
						and
						1731.7,
						Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Section
						1731.7,
						Welfare and Institutions Code.