SACRAMENTO – Today, Chief Stephanie James, President of the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC), issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s State Budget proposal:

“In the last decade California probation has made tremendous strides in the juvenile justice system and in the treatment of youth who come into contact with it by investing in evidence-based practices and melding the rehabilitation needs of youth while protecting public safety. With record lows of juvenile detention rates and juvenile arrest rates, in addition to historic levels of investment in evidence-based programming for youth, this budget raises concerns by making significant changes to how California will continue to protect youth and continue to protect public safety. We have built a system that focuses on rehabilitation and the safety of our communities through implementing true evidence-based practices that follow scientific evidence balancing incentives and sanctions. Prior to understanding more of the details of the move of the Division of Juvenile Justice, there are significant operational concerns that could adversely affect the great movement we have made in juvenile justice over the last decade.  As experts in juvenile justice and evidence-based practices, we look forward to working with the administration and legislature to ensure any change in juvenile justice continues to move California in a safer and fairer direction.”

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