Proposal for Separate Juvenile and Adult Probation Departments in Santa Clara County
The Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Court and the Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Commission have recommended that the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County create separate juvenile and adult probation departments. This recommendation comes out of their recognition that a separate system is required to focus on the unique developmental needs of troubled juveniles apart from adult probationers. The PJ and the Commission recommends the most important change be in the hiring, training and promotion of officers and counselors who work with juvenile recognizing that probation staff working with youth must understand that there are significant differences between adult and juvenile offenders and that developmentally the differences manifests itself in areas of abstract thinking and decision making with adolescents less likely to perceive risk or appreciate the consequences of their actions Contact San Jose Juvenile Defense Attorney Christine McGuire, Santa Cruz Juvenile Defense Attorney Christine McGuire, Salinas Juvenile Defense Attorney Christine McGuire.