JUVENILE CRIME ELIMINATED IN CALIFORNIA

It Must Be True, They Are Shutting Down Juvenile Detention

by Bob Walsh

Well, truth be told it is only sort-of true.  There are now four state run juvenile detention facilities operated by the DJJ (Dept. of Juvenile Justice) in the formerly great state of California, housing a total of 750 wards (felony prisoners).  So the state is shutting the system down.  However, in a move very much like the disastrous REALIGNMENT begun during the Jerry Brown 2.0 administration what the state proposes to do is palm off violent, dangerous juvenile offenders on the counties, with the offer of a little bit of dangeld to con them into thinking they are getting a good deal .   As you might imagine the smart people in the counties are not exactly thrilled. 

Right now 14% of that 750 population are murderers.  37% are convicted of assault and 34% for robbery.  Of that number 25 are female.  About 30% are Black and 60% Hispanic.   (Obviously the system is prejudiced against minorities.)  

There is one DJJ fire camp with about 70 beds.  It would stay operational.  There is now a process under way that would allow DJJ firefighters to have their records expunged so they could get work as civil service fire fighters.

The bribe to the counties would be about $40 million starting July 1 next year when this wonderfulness is supposed to be implemented.