In this issue:
- California Closes Dangerous Youth Correctional System
- CJCJ Staff Hosts Training in Collaborative Court Speaker Series
- New CJCJ Fact Sheet Finds CA Crime Rates Lowest in History
California Closes Dangerous Youth Correctional System
CJCJ celebrates a historic victory for youth and families after California Governor Newsom signs legislation to close the Division of Juvenile Justice.
As California’s legislative session comes to an end, CJCJ and our community partners applaud the decision by state leaders to close the state’s youth correctional system, the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).
In late September, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation that will close DJJ’s remaining institutions in the coming years. This will transform juvenile justice in California to support youth locally where they have access to a broader range of community programs.
This historic moment is a testament to the hard work of youth, families, community-based organizations advocating for transformative justice. For over 35 years, CJCJ has advocated for protecting youth and their families by closing DJJ. Now, CJCJ is honored to collaborate with our partners to ensure the success of this critical reform.
Find out more about the plan to close the Division of Juvenile Justice »
CJCJ Staff Hosts Training in Collaborative Court Speaker Series
The Collaborative Court Speaker Series brings together partners to improve reentry approaches.
CJCJ’s Federal Reentry Project (FRP) team joined an array of partners for the Collaborative Court Speaker Series hosted by the Northern District of California (NDCA). Wyatt Lim-Tepper, FRP Reentry Court Coordinator, hosted a virtual training session during the second annual event.
Wyatt’s discussion with Dr. Brian Borsari, Health Behavior Consultant and Clinician Researcher at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, focused on Utilizing Motivational Interviewing with the Reentry Population. The training session included a role-playing exercise working through challenging interactions experienced by many clients and officers. Their collective expertise shed light on key strategies to engage clients at various points during their return home.
CJCJ Director of Community-Based Services Gerald Miller commends Wyatt’s leadership: “This wouldn’t have been possible without Wyatt’s hard work in the planning and implementation of the collaborative court district-wide. Great job!”
Find out more about the Federal Reentry Project (FRP) »
New CJCJ Fact Sheet Finds CA Crime Rates Lowest in History
Amid major criminal justice reforms, California’s crime rates drop to the lowest in recorded history.
According to a new CJCJ fact sheet, California’s crime rate fell by 3 percent from 2018 to 2019. The fact sheet, authored by CJCJ Senior Research Fellow Mike Males, reveals that crime rates have declined over the past decade amid statewide criminal justice reforms.
The fact sheet shows that crime rates in the state fell by 12 percent from 2010 through 2019, with California jurisdictions reporting reductions in most major crime types, including burglary and robbery. There is variation across counties, which indicates the critical role that local policies play in crime trends.
Despite initial concerns that these law changes would boost crime, most communities were safer in 2019 than at the start of the decade. Crime declines have accompanied the passage of Public Safety Realignment, Prop 47, Prop 57, and Prop 64. A November 2020 ballot measure, Proposition 20, seeks to roll back key elements of recent reforms.
Find out more about California’s record-low crime rates »
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