Schwarzenegger’s Plan Would Transfer Youth Offenders to Counties

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced a plan to the state legislature that would reserve state youth prisons for violent offenders while relocating other youth offenders to the counties from which they came.

Under the plan, the counties would be responsible for youths with nonviolent parole violations, those convicted of drug and property crimes, and all female offenders. It would be funded with state block grants that would supply $53 million next fiscal year. That amount would supply about $94,000 for each offender every year.

There are currently about 2,800 juveniles in state-run correctional facilities. If the plan is approved, about 1,340 of the juveniles would be housed at county facilities by mid-2008.

Some officials say the plan is better than housing youths at state-run facilities because it keeps them closer to home in a less violent setting. Recent studies also state that youths have more success when they are closer to their families.

However, the plan also has some unresolved issues. It is not known whether counties have the facilities to accommodate the proposed influx of youth offenders. Also, youth offender services are not standardized and vary from county to county. Some counties would need to build new facilities and create long-term plans, according to reports.

Although there are few violent female offenders incarcerated by the state, some county officials say that housing them in county facilities is not a good solution because state facilities are better equipped to isolate a ward following an attack. State facilities are also more prepared for addressing wards with mental health problems.