San Diego County Probation Youthful Offender Unit (YOU)

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

In San Diego County, the department of probation developed the Youthful Offender Unit (YOU) in response to the realignment of the Division of Juvenile Justice, specifically to develop a local custodial and community supervision program to address the highest risk youthful offender which formerly were sent to state institutions. The purpose of YOU is to lower the risk of this population committing a new criminal offense, by providing them with effective programming and services that encourage becoming a productive member of the community. The county has also partnered with Second Chance to provide custodial and community job readiness, rehabilitative and re-entry services, and with the Juvenile Community Court Schools for educational services. Youth will receive services in custody from Second Chance staff, school staff, Alcohol Drug Program Specialist (ADPS) Counselors and Correctional Officers which includes education (GED/Diploma), Aggression Replacement Training (A.R.T.), parenting classes, substance abuse, family counseling, work readiness, gang and mental health counseling. Youth in the community will continue their services from the same contracted staff that were assisting them in custody as well as the same ADPS and their assigned Supervision Officer. The focus will continue to be on education, work readiness and maintenance of the learned skills they received during their incarceration. Maintenance groups in reference to A.R.T. will be conducted by contracted staff as well as maintenance groups in reference to substance abuse will be conducted by ADPS Counselors. Additionally, youth will be referred to in and out-patient treatment programs and transitional housing if applicable. Youth referred to in and out-patient treatment programs will be monitored by the Community Unit’s ADPS Counselors.