2. Brief History on Probation
The first juvenile court in the United States was established in Chicago
in 1899.
During the last 30 years, the juvenile justice system has experienced
significant modifications.
Perceptions of a juvenile crime epidemic in the early 1990s fueled
public scrutiny of the system’s ability to effectively control violent
juvenile offenders.
As a result, states have adopted numerous legislative changes in an
effort to crack down on juvenile crime.
3. Society Views Towards the
Probation Department
Probation in the Fresno County is seen as a necessity to help with the
transition of juveniles with criminal background to rehabilitating them
back to being productive citizens of society.
Many of our youth are provided a second chance at life rather than
immediate incarceration.
Deputy Probation Officers (DPOs) are viewed as being vital to our
criminal justice system as they help to serve and rehabilitate many
youth offenders and helping them develop social skills.
4. Department of Juvenile Justice
Organizational Chart
Continuous Improvement
Department of Juvenile Legal Services
Justice Board Legislative Services
These are the areas Public Affairs
Investigations and Apprehensions
JJC and DRC cover
Commissioner
Program Services Division Fiscal and Administrative
Services Division
Long Term-Youth Audits Engineering
Development Educational Services
Campuses (YDC
LT)
Budget Services Federal Programs
Short Term-Youth Physical Health
Services Contracts and Grants Financial Services
Development
Campuses (YDC
ST)
Behavioral Health Human Resources Technology and
Services Information Services
Classification and
Transportation Training
Nutrition
Services
5. Sequence of Events for Criminal Justice
System
Revocation
Diversion Prosecutorial
Discretion
Judicial
Statutory Transfer to Waiver
Exclusion Juvenile Court
Revocation
Release
Diversion Informal Dismissal Release
Processing/
Diversion
Diversion
6. Community Context of the Agency
The Day Reporting Center (D.R.C.) is a community-based treatment
program; multi-disciplinary in nature; and located at the Violet Heintz
Educational Academy here in Fresno, CA.
7. Components of the Agency
Components of the DRC include the following:
Education – Resource Specialists (RSP) services are available for
Special Education students.
Mental Health Services and Case Management (approximately 2
hours per week).
Substance Abuse Treatment and Education (approximately 2 hours
per week).
Electronic Monitoring.
Probation Supervision/Case Management
8. Populations at Risk
The DRC targets those minors, both male and female, aged between 14
and 18 years of age as eligible candidates for the program.
The program contains an education component and a treatment
component.
treatment options available:
standard mental health treatment
substance abuse treatment
9. Mission and Aims
The Juvenile Justice Campus is used primarily as a detention facility to
hold minors who have committed a law violation while they are being
processed through the Juvenile Court. The campus offers state
mandated educational services in the Alice Worsley School. Programs
for minors at the Juvenile Justice Campus include the Floyd Farrow
Substance Abuse Program, the New Horizons Program, as well as other
commitment programs for special population of minors. Services for
minors include Boys and Girls Clubs, Thinking for a Change, Faith
Based Services, and programs focusing on sobriety. Specialized
Programs include Planned Parenthood, Mentoring, Arts and others
designed to meet the needs of the minors at the facility.
10. Mission and Aims
DPOs try to address the needs of those juveniles who seek their
services, and in the process continually improve the quality of those
services that are offered.
For instance, placing the minor on Electronic Monitoring (EM) can
serve two purposes:
make society feel safer
have the minor not take part in any delinquent activities
Minor’s failure to be in compliance with such tasks can result in having
the minor be brought back to court before a judge.
11. Agency’s Practices
DRC makes an intent on rehabilitating our youth.
Incarceration is not an option for these youths.
Probation officers supervise youth offenders on probation through
personal contact with the offenders and their families.
Probation officers monitor juvenile offenders to prevent them from
committing any new offenses.
12. Significance of Agency in Terms of
Social Justice
Social justice within my agency is very important as the DPO’s main
concern is that their minors are treated with the upmost dignity and
respect.
Regardless of their past, these minors keep having morals and human
rights that should be acknowledged.
It is in everybody’s interest that these juveniles are given fair and
unbiased trials as they are capable of learning from their own mistakes.
13. Significance of this Agency in Terms
of Social Work Values
As Social Work professionals, we know the importance of treating
people regardless of age, race, or religion with respect and we should
complement their strengths and yet not look down on them for having
weaknesses.
We should strive towards improving the quality of people’s lives and
unleash their true unknown potential.
14. Ways of Preventing Juvenile
Delinquency
We’ve got to proactive in our children’s lives in which positive
influences, sober activities and support are made readily available from
different sources.
The juvenile has got to have a strong family base and support.
Make sure juveniles have psychological support in which siblings can
participate in.
Make sure we inform and educate our children about drug prevention
and its long lasting effects at an early age since drug use amongst
elementary students is increasing.
