It’s not really clear exactly how or why the San Benito County
Juvenile Justice Commission effectively slipped into inactive
status. It is clear, however, that the commission must be brought
back to life.
It’s not really clear exactly how or why the San Benito County Juvenile Justice Commission effectively slipped into inactive status. It is clear, however, that the commission must be brought back to life.
Until recently, the Juvenile Justice Commission had only one member. Two more people have been added, but it still has too few members to function as required by California law. The state’s Welfare and Institution Code requires that the commission have no fewer than seven, and no more than 15, sitting members.
The commission is charged by law with oversight of Juvenile Hall and is also mandated to operate a delinquency prevention program. Beyond that, it has an advisory role in running the county Probation Department and until the commission is fully functional and in compliance with state law, it can’t fulfill its legally prescribed obligation work with the San Benito Superior Court in selecting a new head for the troubled department.
Regular readers of the Free Lance are well aware of the scandal at the Probation Department late last year that led to the administrative suspensions of Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts and Juvenile Hall Superintendent Tim Pierleoni, neither of whom any longer works for the county. We can only wonder whether the whole turmoil might have been avoided if the Juvenile Justice Commission been operating as it should have been back then.
John Delgado, who until recently was the Juvenile Justice Commission’s lone member, has pointed out that it has been left up to the commission itself to replenish its membership. That needs to change.
One obvious solution is to have the county Board of Supervisors assume responsibility for appointing the commission’s members. If each of the five supervisors was responsible for three appointments, the commission would have enough members.
The Superior Court also needs to take a more active role in ensuring that the commission is in compliance with state law and is able to perform its oversight and advisory functions.
Members of the public can do their part by simply stepping up to the plate and applying for a place on the commission. Interested? Show up at the Juvenile Justice Commission’s next meeting – it’s scheduled for 6:30pm on March 12 at Juvenile Hall, 708 Flynn Road – and ask for an application.
There is important work to be done. But until the commission has enough members, it can’t do its job.
