Juvenile Justice
Advocacy Strategies
Why We advocate
Youth involved in the juvenile justice (JJ) system have similar experiences and often similar outcomes to youth in the dependency system. CASAs can offer support, relationship-based advocacy, and consistency to JJ youth, as they do for youth in the foster care system.
Also, young people who are in foster care may come into contact with the juvenile justice (delinquency) system. When they do, it is important for their CASA to understand the delinquency process so they can best support the young person.
Youth in the JJ system have similar needs as youth in the child welfare system. When a young person comes into contact with the juvenile justice system, advocates will focus on SFCASA’s core advocacy areas, through relationship- based advocacy.
Similarly to youth in the dependency system, youth involved in the juvenile justice system may move placements often and experience frequent changes among their support team members. CASAs can be a consistent, caring adult in an uncertain time.
How to advocate
Important Things to Know
Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Statuses:
300 status refers to youth in the dependency, or foster care, system.
602 status refers to youth in the juvenile justice (delinquency) system.
450 status refers to youth who have successfully completed probation and are now accessing AB12 (extended foster care) services through probation services. This is also known as “transitional jurisdiction.”
241.1 Joint Assessment Hearing: If a youth in foster care comes into contact with law enforcement, the county must determine which system will best serve the youth. The determination is made in a 241.1 Joint Assessment Hearing with a representative from both systems. Please note that CASAs have a right to be notified of this type of hearing write a statement for the joint assessment report.
In San Francisco the 241.1 assessment is equivalent to the Committee for Case Assessment and Status Evaluations (CASE). CASE is comprised of one standing member from each of the Juvenile Probation Department, Human Services Agency-Family and Children’s Services (has-FCS), and the City Attorney’s Office. The representatives of SFJPD and HSA serve as co-chairs of the Committee. The CASE makes a recommendation to the Unified Family Court as to whether the delinquency or dependency jurisdiction is more appropriate for the youth. The recommendation of appropriate Juvenile Court jurisdiction must be based upon a vote of two standing co-chairs from SFJPD and HSA. In the event that the two CASE Co-Chairs cannot agree upon a recommendation, the City Attorney’s representative shall be the deciding vote.
Supporting Your Youth
Your youth may be experiencing a lot of feelings about their JJ-involvement. This may be a scary and uncertain time for the youth and their families. The juvenile justice process or probation terms may be confusing or unclear to the youth. Be sure to ask your youth if they understand what is going on and if you can clarify anything. The youth may be worried about their goals and plans and how this process may affect their future. Use supportive and warm language, like “everyone makes mistakes.” Mistakes do not define us, so it is important to continue instilling hope and offering support where needed.
One of the most important things in being a CASA for a youth in the Juvenile Justice system is the ability to establish and maintain important boundaries. With guidance from your case supervisor, CASAs will have clarifying conversations with youth. Important topics will include:
- Working as a team with the youth’s Probation Officer
- The fact that CASAs are not “secret-keepers”
- The importance of youth not disclosing any information about the crime and being encouraged to speak to their attorney about that subject
- The importance of CASAs supporting youth in completing and abiding by probation terms.
Please note that CASAs should be in close communication with their Case Supervisors, as they can offer support and guidance for any case issues or questions.
What do I do if my youth is arrested?
Don’t panic! These things happen and we are here to listen and provide guidance to you in your support of the young person you serve. When a youth is arrested, CASAs will work with their case supervisor and the youth’s current team to evaluate next steps and to learn if/where the youth is being detained. Talk to your case supervisor. This may be an uncertain and anxious time for you, the youth, and the youth’s family. We are here to support!
What if my youth is detained?
The SFCASA Order of Appointment will allow for contact and visitation with your youth, regardless of county of placement CASAs have the opportunity to visit with their youth for an extended period of time by obtaining an interview pass from the assigned PO. Be in touch with the youth’s current team in order to find out who the youth’s PO is. In San Francisco County, you or your case supervisor can reach out to the Juvenile Justice Center Clerk’s Office at (415) 682-5100.
CASAs will contact the assigned PO to provide interview passes. Please note: CASAs must be sure to avoid visiting during school time, afternoon shift change, mealtimes and during weekend family visitation hours.
Appropriate Language
Glossary of Terms (Provided by SF Juvenile Probation Department)
Adjudication - The court process where a judge decides there is evidence the youth committed the act for which he or she is charged.
Aggravating Factors - Facts that can make a crime more serious, or reasons why a judge might give you a harsher sentence.
Arrest - When law enforcement takes a youth into custody for an alleged law violation. Assessment - An evaluation of a minor’s strengths, needs, and risks.
Bail - A Juvenile cannot be bailed out of detention. Only a judge can order the release of a juvenile or may grant the Probation Officer a right-to-release.
Bench Warrant - A warrant issued by the court because the youth failed to appear for a mandatory hearing.
Booking - When a youth is arrested by a law enforcement officer for a law violation and the youth is placed into secure custody (Juvenile Hall).
Citation - An arrest where a youth is released to a parent / legal guardian and is ordered to see a probation officer on a set day and time.
Commitment - A court order giving guardianship of the youth to either the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department or the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for placement in a Division of Juvenile Justice facility.
Continuance - A delay in court proceeding to a later date.
Court Disposition - An order the judge makes as a consequence of a youth’s behavior. Also known as “sentencing” in adult court.
Detention - The housing of youth in secure custody at the Juvenile Justice Center (also known as Youth Guidance Center or Juvenile Hall). A decision must be made within 72 hours (or 3 business days) about the continued detention of the youth.
Detention Hearing - The first Court Hearing after a youth is arrested. The Court rules whether or not the youth is released from custody, placed on Home Supervision, or remains at Juvenile Hall pending disposition.
Disposition Hearing - (Usually 4-5 weeks after the detention hearing if the youth is still in custody). A hearing, similar to sentencing in adult court, where the court announces the final decision of the youth’s case.
Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)* - State correctional facilities housing juvenile offenders and/or parolees up to the age of 23. *Please see here for updates on DJJ.
District Attorney (DA) - The lawyer who files the charges and prosecutes those charges in court representing the people of the community.
Gang Enhancement - An additional charge that the D.A. can add in order to extend or increase your custody time for involvement in gang activity.
Gang Injunction - A court-issued restraining order prohibiting youths identified as gang members from participating in certain activities.
J-1 Hearing (Pre-Trial Conference) - Usually one week after the detention hearing. J-1 is where a youth will plead guilty or not guilty to the petition (charge).
J-2 Hearing (Trial) - The trial phase, where victims and witnesses may give sworn testimony regarding the incident which led to the arrest.
Jurisdiction - A geographical area (such as the county) where a court may exercise its authority over the youth.
Transfer-in - When a youth who resides in San Francisco is adjudicated in another county, the case may be sent to San Francisco for disposition.
Transfer-out - when a youth that lives in another county is adjudicated in San Francisco the case may be sent to the youth’s home county for disposition.
Levels of Offense - This can be a felony, misdemeanor or infraction. A felony is the most serious level and misdemeanor the lowest level. Infractions do not involve detention.
Out of Home Placement - When the court determines the youth should be removed from your home and placed in a residential treatment facility.
Petition - The legal document the District Attorney files with the court, which describes the law violation(s) (charges) a youth is alleged to have committed
Probation - When a judge orders that a minor will be sent home under the supervision of a probation officer with several conditions.
Probation Officer (PO) - The official assigned to investigate a law violation, develop a plan to successfully help youth re-enter the community and monitor a youth on probation.
Public Defender - A free lawyer appointed to represent the youth during the court process.
Social (Dispositional) Report - A report presented prior to the Dispositional Hearing summarizing the incident, law violation, court proceedings, family history and probation officers recommendations regarding future plans for the youth.
Wardship - The Court’s legal authority over the youth where they may act as the “parent” or guardian of the youth. Wardship cases are placed on active supervision either at home, with a relative, or when the youth is removed from the home.
Welfare and Institutions Code Section 707 - The California Law that refers to specific crime categories. These crimes are very serious such as rape, murder or kidnapping. The District Attorney (DA) can prosecute these crimes without the Juvenile Court Judge’s determination and may charge the youth as an adult, and request a life sentence.
Partner Organizations
San Francisco Diversion Program:The Huckleberry Community Assessment and Resource Center or CARC is a single point of entry for crisis intervention, assessment, service integration and referral of arrested youth. Staff from juvenile probation, public health, the sheriff’s department, the police department, and community-based organizations work together in the same space to assess and case manage youth who are arrested for a variety of offenses.
CARC serves San Francisco youth ages 11-17, who are arrested for misdemeanors or certain felonies. With a focus on positive youth development, CARC helps youth avoid detention and further involvement in the juvenile justice system. Thirty percent of all arrested youth in San Francisco are served by CARC. SF Police General Orders state that CARC must be contacted for all juvenile arrest cases.
Another great program through CARC is Project READY. This program was developed as a result of CARC case managers recognizing the impact that early intervention and prevention programming can have on a youth’s life. Project READY, which stands for Reconnecting, Educating, and Achieving Dreams for Youth, ensures that 8th graders with behavioral or truancy issues successfully transition to high school and avoid contact with the juvenile justice system.
AIIM Higher is a partnership among the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department, the Child, Youth and Family System of Care, and Seneca. The AIIM Higher team is comprised of mental health clinicians who conduct clinical assessments and facilitate community behavioral health linkages for probation-involved youth in San Francisco. Youth who screen in for moderate to serious behavioral health needs and who are on probation in San Francisco County are eligible for a Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment, planning, linkage and engagement services.
The Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice: CJCJ serves Bay Area populations with special needs, including youth facing or transitioning from the juvenile justice system. CJCJ has a number of direct service programs for JJ youth. Please also visit CJCJ’s website for important updates engaging JJ reforms and changes in California.
The Young Women’s Freedom Center (YWFC) is a leadership and advocacy organization led by systems-involved young and adult women and transgender gender non-conforming (TGNC) people of color who have grown up in poverty, worked in the underground street economy, and have been criminalized by social services such as foster care, welfare, and the mental health systems.
The YWFC believe that those most impacted by cycles of poverty, violence, exploitation and incarceration are the experts in their own lives and best positioned to identify and lead the change needed to support true and transformative justice.
Resources/Links to Learn More
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department
Huckleberry Community Assessment & Resource Center (CARC)
Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice
A Guide to the Juvenile Justice System by SF Juvenile Probation Department
Community Based Organizations and SFJPD Communication Agreement
CalCASA Juvenile Justice Training Materials
Continuing Education Opportunities
Working with Juvenile Justice Involved Youth 101. View the slides here
This training is intended for current and future CASAs matched with a young person in the juvenile justice system, if you serve a youth in the JJ system or a young adult accessing AB12 through Probation, please plan to attend this training. Serving a JJ youth has key differences in many areas including: the team members, the court hearing types and procedures, the key advocacy areas, the resources available to the youth, and more. Additionally, the youth themselves tend to have different experiences and characteristics than their dependency involved peers that are crucial to understand when connecting with a JJ youth in order to best serve them and their families. This training will dive into all the special considerations of working with a justice involved teen or young adult.