LA County Board

13. Recommitting to Decarcerating Girls and Gender Expansive Youth in Los Angeles County Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Mitchell: Direct the Chief Probation Officer to designate and resource two sworn staff members and two civilian staff members to establish and sustain a dedicated Ending Girls Incarceration (EGI) Initiative Team, utilizing Office of Youth and Community Restoration funding to support the ongoing implementation of this team. The working group should include resourced positions with the following functions: Data Analysis; Staff dedicated to working with partner agencies and community-based organizations; Staff with Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and gender expertise for probation case management and court representation. (two Deputy Probation Officers). Direct the Chief Probation Officer and the Director of the Department of Youth Development (DYD), in collaboration with the Directors of the Departments of Children and Family Services, Mental Health, the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the Probation Oversight Commission, the Public Defender, the Alternate Public Defender, Beloved Village, and other relevant community-based partners with demonstrated experience serving youth, to establish a weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team focused on real-time service barriers, placement challenges, release planning, and rapid problem-solving for girls and gender-expansive youth. Implementation of the EGI Initiative shall be conducted in consultation with the Juvenile Court and in alignment with the Los Angeles County WIC 241.1 protocol to ensure consistency with existing court and agency established processes. Direct the Chief Probation Officer to prepare weekly data reports for the EGI Initiative Team, to identify drivers of detention and guide reform efforts in the weekly interagency problem-solving meetings. The reports should be shared with meeting participants at least one day prior to each meeting, and include but not be limited to: Admissions by zip code; Admission reasons (new arrest, probation violation, bench warrant, etc.); Charges and Los Angeles Detention Screener risk scores; Dual Status involvement; Length of stay by youth; Reasons for overrides/barriers to release for eligible youth; Disaggregated data by race, ethnicity, developmental disability, and sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression; Number of youth identified through the multidisciplinary review process as eligible for release, diversion, or alternative placement; Average length of stay for girls and gender-expansive youth, including monthly and annual trend data; Number and type of barriers preventing release, including but not limited to housing, placement availability, behavioral health needs, health and mental health needs, court orders, warrant status, and family reunification challenges. Direct the Chief Probation Officer and the Director of DYD, in collaboration with the EGI Initiative Team, to report back on the status and progress of the initiative at each regular Board meeting at which the “Report on Status of the Probation Department,” is agendized. Required reporting metrics should include: Progress toward the overall goal of rapid release planning and reduced time in detention; and increased utilization of community-based alternatives; Number of youth and families supported through this model; Trends in charges, admissions, releases, diversions, and placements over time; Average length of stay and reductions achieved over time; Analysis of barriers that prevented release and corrective actions taken to address those barriers; Identification of housing, placement, and service capacity needs necessary to further reduce detention. Direct the Chief Probation Officer, in collaboration with the EGI Initiative Team, to conduct monthly audits of detention decisions, release recommendations, placement outcomes, and barriers to release to identify gaps or areas for improvement in the process. Direct the Chief Probation Officer and the Director of DYD to report back to the Board in 12 months with an evaluation of the Ending Girls Incarceration Initiative, including measurable outcomes, lessons learned, recommendations for sustainability, and opportunities to expand successful practices to all youth populations in County juvenile facilities. (26-3696) Motion by Supervisor Mitchell (Updates Following Cluster)