Case study: 1

Juvenile hall at Sonoma County, California

5.1 Introduction

Sonoma country’s modern juvenile home at Santa Rosa, opened in December 2005. The facility
has the capacity to provide secure residential housing to 140 youths. In order to meet Sonoma
County's needs well into the future, the building was designed to support expansion of up to 100
beds, providing the potential of a 240 bed facility. The housing units were also designed with a
focus on overall environmental quality, which reduces tensions and assists our Juvenile
Correctional Counsellors in effectively managing the population.

The hall is design for female juvenile offenders of age 16-18 years. Due to the less number of
female offenders it was recommended that they also can be accommodate male offenders also.

In this center they provide three type of facilities in the campus:

1. Juvenile hall
2. Probation camp
3. Sierra youth center

5.2 Missions of juvenile hall

1. Provide for community protection by securely and safely housing youth who pose a danger
to themselves or others.

2. Ensure residents are provided an environment that treats them with respect and dignity,
respects their value, recognizes their individual rights, is culturally sensitive, and
understands cultural diversity.

3. Ensure residents are provided a level of supervision and discipline, which promotes
accountability and responsibility and does not exceed the limits necessary to achieve the
desired behavior. The institutional environment should be as least restrictive as possible,
but structured as necessary to maintain order and safety. Institutional staff should maintain
 control by communicating and interacting with residents and through the use of
professional skills and abilities.

4. Provide academic, psychological, psycho-educational, recreational and other services,

which will promote personal growth and enable residents to develop the skills and values
necessary to succeed.

5. Ensure staff serves as a role model and look to them to exhibit standards of socially
acceptable behavior. Staff should always project the appearance, attitude, and behavior
which creates an atmosphere of mutual respect and which displays the highest professional
and ethical standards.

5.3 Services of juvenile hall

1. Secure physical care

2. Care and treatment services
3. A behaviour management system design to foster personal responsibility.
4. Medical services provided
5. Recreational areas provided

5.4 Sonoma county probation camp

Sonoma County Probation Camp is a 24-bed, three-phase, short-term correctional treatment

facility under the administration of the Probation Department for 16 to 18 year old males
committed by the Juvenile Court.

First established in 1955, Probation Camp has a long and proud history of providing positive
opportunities for the young men committed to the program, resulting in more productive citizens
and safer communities in Sonoma County.

The Sonoma country probation camp is aims to address the issues related to antisocial, illegal
behaviour, thinking type of the youth. They help to the juveniles how to change their thought
process in the term of responsibility of their action, reaction and there way to he or she response.

5.5 Its services

1. The residents receive individualized focus toward obtainment of the GED and/or High
School diploma.

2. Residents participate in a year-round Wilderness Experience Program, which includes

back-pack trips, cross-country skiing or snow shoeing, and hiking, all of which reinforce
the lessons of self-reliance and responsibility.

3. Involvement with local industries provides realistic vocational training, selective job
placement upon referral from Camp staff, and production contract work. Camp residents
have the opportunity to participate in local vocational competitions as well as explore
classes at the Santa Rosa Junior College.

4. A work experience program developed in cooperation with many County departments,

State Parks and local industry, facilitates the development of many construction
occupational skills and provides a service to the community and a savings for the taxpayers
of the County in work hours completed by the Camp.

5. Camp maintains a greenhouse and garden where their maintenance and operation are taught
to selected residents. Fruits and vegetables are cultivated by the Camp residents for
consumption at Camp and for Camp catered events, saving tax dollars through
supplementing the Camp’s food budget.

6. A complete Culinary Arts program is offered to all Probation Camp youth, including
Catering and Food Service. The Camp residents, under the instruction of the chef,
participate in all cooking, baking and service for the events, which in turn gives them
valuable experience.

7. During a resident’s stay, he is required to earn and pay court ordered restitution to the
victims of his crimes. The products produced and the work projects completed by Camp
residents help to save the taxpayer money and provide the residents applicable occupational
skills.

8. Residents can earn furloughs ranging from eight hours to 12 hours per week, as determined
by responsible behavioural change, public safety, and time in program. Furloughs are a
privilege, not a right. Camp provides intensive supervision and support to the resident and
 his family as they transition back into the community in order to ensure public safety and
foster success.

9. A fully equipped industrial woodworking / metal shop provides the experience in the
operation of many hand and power tools and equipment necessary for employment in
industry or construction fields. Residents may earn Camp Employability Skills
Competency Certificates in Welding, Wood Working, Food Service, Electrical Wiring,
Plumbing and Landscaping, and be trained and certified as OSHA approved forklift
operators.

5.6 Sierra youth centre

This centre is deals with to minimize the risk of misbehavior and to develop healthier skills,
abilities and positive attitude. Inmates of the center stay from 6-12 month depending on the
progress of the offenders. The center is also provides an aftercare programs that is stabilized to
provide extra 6-14 month to assist the families of the offenders and ensure that the juveniles have
successfully returned home with new mind set and positive attitude towards the community.

5.7 Services in youth center

In the center there are many programs are provided:

1. Recreational activities

2. Educational activities

3. Work crew

4. Educational therapy
 Fig:2 Exterior view of sonoma country juvenile(SOURCE: (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Probation/Juvenile-Hall/))

Fig:3 Bird eye view of sonoma country juvenile justice center(SOURCE: (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Probation/Juvenile-
Hall/))
Fig: 4 waiting area of sonoma county juvenile home(SOURCE: (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Probation/Juvenile-
Hall/))

Fig: 5 dining area(SOURCE: (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Probation/Juvenile-Hall/))

Fig:6 Dormitories/housing area of juveniles(SOURCE: (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Probation/Juvenile-Hall/))