Hollister
– Until San Benito County’s Juvenile Justice Commission is
brought into compliance with state law, the county will be unable
to replace former Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts.
Hollister – Until San Benito County’s Juvenile Justice Commission is brought into compliance with state law, the county will be unable to replace former Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts.
In addition to the commission’s annual inspection of the county’s Juvenile Hall, it also advises the San Benito County Superior Court in its appointment of the Probation Department’s highest position. As defined by the state’s Welfare and Institution Code, the commission must have no fewer than seven, and no more than 15, sitting members.
But until recently John Delgado was the only commissioner. When Delgado got involved with the commission in 1999, there were 12 commissioners, he said. The commission added Randy Pfeifer and Elizabeth Alameda within the last year, he said.
Delgado said the commission has recently received five applications, more than at any one time in the eight years he has been involved. The decline in commissioners has been due to a lack of outreach by the commission, Delgado said.
“I think it was the lack of marketing and lack of awareness of what the commission was,” Delgado said.
The commission will be unable to advise San Benito County Superior Court judges Steven Sanders and Harry Tobias in the appointment of a new chief probation officer until four more members are accepted.
And once the commission has enough members, Delgado hopes the county can avoid the turmoil that surrounded the probation department in late 2006.
“I think there’s going to be more opportunity to have a clearer understanding of what’s going on,” Delgado said.
Botts was placed on leave by the San Benito County Superior Court for undisclosed reasons in October. Former Juvenile Hall Superintendent Tim Pierleoni, who served as second in command under Botts, was also placed on leave at the same time. He resigned a month later.
After Botts was placed on paid administrative leave, the Superior Court appointed longtime probation department employee Mary Covell as interim chief probation officer.
Delgado said it was difficult for one person to inspect the Juvenile Hall facilities. He said the addition of commissioners will help monitor the hall.
However, Delgado stressed that the commission’s role in the juvenile justice system is supportive.
“We’re not there to ding them on every little thing,” Delgado said. “We’re there to support them.”
Once the commission has the required number of members, applicants for the chief probation officer position will interview with the commission, Delgado said. The commission will then make recommendations to the judges who will appoint someone to the position, he said.
The judges act as a liaison between the commission and the Probation Department, Delgado said.
Besides its advisory role and inspection of the Juvenile Hall, the commission also includes a delinquency prevention commission, also mandated by law but more vaguely defined in its role.
Delgado hopes the delinquency prevention commission will work with other agencies to decrease the number of juvenile wards in the county. He also hopes members of the community will come forward to sit on the commission.
“The broader representation of the community, the better,” Delgado said.
Former San Benito County Court Judge Thomas Breen said the number of commissioners fluctuated in the more than 20 years he was involved with the Juvenile Justice Commission. When Breen was involved, the commissioners would hold fundraisers to give money to other organizations for youth activities, he said.
Breen said he encourages community members to get involved with the commission. That’s one way to help the community deal with problems associated with juvenile crime, he said.
“It’s always been a problem,” Breen said. “It’s a problem everywhere in our country. Crime isn’t going to go away.”
Pfeifer, who works as a psychiatric nurse at the James Boys Ranch in Santa Clara County, said county residents have an opportunity to make a difference in their community through participation on the commission.
“What I like about working with juveniles is these kids are still salvageable,” Pfeifer said. “And it may be the last chance to turn them around.”
He said he would like to see parents get involved.
Delgado said the bedroom community needs to realize they too have a stake in the county.
“People react when something happens to them or something happens in their neighborhood,” Delgado said. “We don’t need to wait. We need to be more proactive.”
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
