A plan from the Contra Costa County district attorney made public Tuesday proposing the county’s Juvenile Hall should close in 2021 was praised by some county supervisors for its focus, but blasted by others for the way it was presented.
On Tuesday morning, District Attorney Diana Becton sent out a news release announcing her formation of a “Reimagine Youth Justice Task Force” of county and community representatives promoting more restorative youth justice programs.
The task force, Becton said, would also develop a process to close Juvenile Hall in Martinez.
Two supervisors, John Gioia and Federal Glover, are quoted in the release. Gioia said, “We need to move away from institutionalization of young people and instead invest in community-based restorative justice solutions which make us safer and are more fiscally responsible.”
Added Glover, “In many cases, a service-oriented approach will achieve much more in rehabilitating and helping (young people) to become productive members of our community.”
During county departmental budget hearings Tuesday, the other three supervisors said they are disappointed and surprised to have first heard of Becton’s planned task force Tuesday morning.
Supervisors Candace Andersen and Karen Mitchoff said Becton’s announcement is a “slap in the face” to Chief Probation Officer Esa Ehmen-Krause, under whose purview fall both Juvenile Hall and the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility, also called the Byron Boys Ranch.
Andersen said she was troubled that Becton announced the task force plan with little discussion with or input from the full Board of Supervisors. Mitchoff said she didn’t appreciate learning of the task force from the news release.
Added Burgis, “I do feel we’ve put our chief probation officer in an awkward situation.”
In her department’s budget presentation a few hours later on Tuesday, Ehmen-Krause said that given declining populations at both the Juvenile Hall in Martinez and the Orin Allen facility near Discovery Bay, and
considering the maintenance needs at the Orin Allen facility, her office proposes closing the Orin Allen facility in 2022.
Residents there would be moved to Juvenile Hall, Ehmen-Krause said, and new community-based programs could be based there, too.
Those ideas run counter to those presented in Becton’s news release Tuesday morning, which supports keeping the Orin Allen facility open, and not Juvenile Hall. Ehmen-Krause told the supervisors she was “taken aback
a little bit” by Becton’s announcement, a draft of which she saw late Monday.
Ehmen-Krause said Tuesday afternoon she shared her concerns with Becton earlier in the day.
A district attorney’s spokesman said Tuesday afternoon that Becton had no comment Tuesday on the situation beyond the morning press release.
The Probation Department, like the District Attorney’s Office and every other county department, faces budget cuts caused largely by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has meant increased spending for many departments and less revenue for most.
The 2020-21 budget, yet to be finalized, at this stage is about $24 million less than its earliest draft had called for.
🤡 🌎. Question, when George Soros is arrested, will his public service implants be removed? This has gone on long enough. This DA is a threat to our community.
Yep. It’s well known that she is a Soros synchophat, using her power
to follow the necessary steps for more bad people on the streets.It
seems to be part of assembling an underground fighting machine.
Part of leveraging 2 major issues into gains made through radical candidates and activist Judges/District Attorneys. It is well thought out and well funded through Marxist/Leninist/Soros efforts, and explains the DA’s announcement.
Very important election ahead.
Drain the swamp!
“BIG NEWS! The Political Crime of the Century is unfolding. ObamaBiden illegally spied on the Trump Campaign, both before and after the election. Treason! “
Yet another example of letting criminals in the making continue on their path of destructions for themselves and society at large. Great job sup’s. Come election time we will remember.
Actually restorative justice programs for juveniles are very effective in identifying the risk factors and addressing the needs of youths that enter the system. These programs lower recidivism, by addressing the root problem. A punitive system does not address the root problem, it just creates career criminals.
Reimagine your home without valuables and your driveway empty.
They owe the citizens this:
A comprehensive plan on how, and who will evaluate juvenile delinquents as to their potential for rehabilitation.
What education and experience will these counselors have?
How long are the programs, where are they, and who will pay for them?
How will their success or failure be evaluated?
Who will be liable for acts of violence due to misdiagnosis?
I have noticed that whenever someone uses the term “reimagined” they generally have no plan. This simply want to do away with something and expect citizens to live with the results. Unacceptable.
I hope that by now everyone is aware that she is a hand-picked George Soros goonie and needs to be removed immediately. Her “vision” is not what is needed for CCC. Her actions are destructive!
See how it works Kiddies?
It’s time to STOP being children in adult bodies and grow up. Voting for someone out of guilt in order to “prove” you’re not racist or misogynistic is the downfall of society.
BTW, this DA is out of order. Time for Adults to take action and remove her from office.
How do we do it ?let’s get to it!
Becton is pushing for the “Restorative Justice” model for youth corrections.
Restorative Justice is when you are forced to sit in a closed room with the 220-pound “child” who mercilessly beat the crap out of you or your spouse or your child, and listen to why you forced the poor offender into assaulting you because of your systemic racism.
There will be no justice in Contra Costa County. Just endless lectures on how your racism is the cause of violent crime.
Between the chinese and the democrats I feel like I am living in a Bizarro Cartoon.
I think this DA is a little confused about her job description. Her job is to prosecute criminals. It is the judicial branch that decides where those criminals go.
Becton is proof that the inmates are already running the asylum known as Contra Costa County. This Soros-backed plagiarist does not have the best interests, much less safety of law-abiding citizens at heart.
The truth is that some juveniles commit very serious crimes and need to be incarcerated to protect everyone else. If they can be rehabilitated, so much the better, but the safety of residents should be a higher priority. BTW- maybe Becton should have offered that couple in Martinez some “community-based services, rather than going for a hate-crime prosecution.
This county is run by activists disguised as “public servants”
Past time to clean house.
Stop voting Democrat or CC County is going to be San Francisco Jr.
The elected District Attorney has a lot of gall trying to tell another Department head how to run the Probation department. As for John Gioia and Federal Glover both of these idiots have overstayed their place on the Board and need to go. Something can be done about Glover in November when the voters go to the polls. Unfortunately we are stuck with Gioia and Becton for a few more years
Big time need to find a way to dispose of Gioia, Becton, Ehmen-Krause, and Glover. CoCo County is going into the toilet with the way things are going in this state and country.
The attempt to guilt impose on the populace is way out of line! Need to muzzle that Burris with them!
GO TRUMP!!
WOW, SMDH…at a loss for words. WE will remember this come election time!!!
No we won’t. Don’t kid yourself. This kind of nonsense has been going on for years and for years everyone’s been threatening the doom and gloom of election night only to wake in the morning to the same nonsense.
Trucker is right on target. The California electorate is far too lazy to take the time to learn about the politics they are voting for. Whoever has the flashyest fliers or most advertising budget wins, especially if that person is an imcumbant. I use to say we will remember too. However, when election time comes around, somehow the same idiots retain their seats.
Who is Burgis that is quoted? I imagine some of these youths will be folded into other Contra Costa County Office of Education programs under the guise of least restrictive learning environment for the student. Unfortunately I feel that those sites are not currently equipped for these new students. They will disrupt ( at least) the opportunities for the present students to ( special education ) learn. Improving these sites to function safely with this new population would entail a large financial investment, and would not provide a replacement for the present special education population. I do not see the gain to offset the losses.
Quit Voting Democrat I mean Communist!!!
People when will you learn….
I hope before it is too late
The more I hear about Becton, the more I want to rant…..I mean isnt the D.A. supposed to be the prosecutor???
I am beginning to believe that our elected officials just dont get it. I mean there are some truly EVIL people (juvs included) out there and no amount of programs is going to rehabilitate them….
Simple minded politicians with simple nonsensical solutions to complex situations and problems. A huge problem during these times is politicians who are experts at things they know nothing about. And, that there is zero accountability for politicians whose pompous incompetent actions wreak havoc on our communities.
Did anyone happen to catch the June 29 press conference, regarding the Golden State Killer trial? DAs from 6 California counties where the killer terrorized and murdered people spoke. They spoke about the dedication and efforts of the police agencies whose work and long investigations lead to capture. They spoke of the families of the victims whose lives have been devastated. All the DAs spoke with depth, professionalism and empathy.
All but one, that is. Diana Bectons presentation was like something written and presented by grade schooler.
She is a puppet. Bought and paid for. She doesn’t need to be smart, just do what she’s told. She’s just a cog in a bigger effort to overthrow our country
wow can not believe that so many are surprised
she is a far left liberal who is backed by all the liberal bias generals
we are at war people
why do you think they kept us locked down all this time
why do you think the media is only focusing on liberal agendas and not the community
they are all against us ….
you have been warned by many and you refuse to see
if you dont act now
your children will become liberal tools sent to the front lines ….
to destroy you
yes you …..
your childrens compliance is their goal
they get them they control you ….and use them against you
good luck …
but you voted for these wolves …..
now your going to be eaten
Very well said. Everybody who hates the direction this country is going needs to vote red all across the ballot. Let’s end this insanity.
Vote against all incumbents. Everyone in every position of power right now is guilty. Some for actions, some for not speaking out against. Vote new people into every position. Whoever they are is better than what we have now. Judges, DAs, board of supervisors, sheriff, city council, school board. Recall Newsom replace with anyone with an R … vote for Trump. It’s the only way out of this. No it’s not perfect but it’s how our process works.
I mean, does anyone think Becton is doing a good job? I still can’t believe she was elected.
How can we get rid of this lady? She is completely incompetent. She shows no regard for citizens of C.C.C…….she only cares about her agenda and is abusing her powers by pushing her political narrative.