Juvenile
The Juvenile Division strives to prevent and reduce the frequency, severity, and impact of delinquent behavior among juveniles who come within its jurisdiction.
The Juvenile Division is responsible for processing all juvenile offenders referred to the juvenile justice system in Monterey County. It is comprised of four major work units: Court Services, Field Services, Special Services, and Alternative Programs.
The Juvenile Division’s mission is to protect the citizens of Monterey County by assessing the risk and needs of juvenile offenders and utilizing evidence-based practices to provide prevention and rehabilitation services. The Juvenile Division also prepares appropriate reports and recommendations for the Juvenile Court, enforces court orders, and provides assistance to victims. The Department also provides training in time study and case plan development and audits juvenile files to ensure that the Department is meeting Federal and State mandates.
Juvenile Court Services
Juvenile Court Services prepares reports for the Juvenile Court and makes recommendations regarding detention, terms and conditions of probation, program referrals, and placement. The Intake Unit processes referrals from various law-enforcement agencies within Monterey County as well as referrals transferred from other counties.
The Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment Program, the Restorative Justice Program, and the Juvenile Division's Restitution Unit also operate out of Juvenile Court Services.
Juvenile Field Services
Juvenile Field Services is responsible for the supervision of all minors on formal and informal juvenile probation not otherwise assigned to other programs within the department. The unit has long standing partnerships with the Salinas Union High School and Monterey Peninsula Unified High School Districts, and the Monterey County Office of Education in providing supervision and support through the Campus-Based Probation Officer Program. Juvenile Field Services is also partially responsible for departmental compliance with Title IV-E regulations. In addition, juvenile probation officers provide supplemental law-enforcement services at special events, such as the Salinas Valley Fair, the Monterey County Fair, and high school sporting events.
Juvenile Special Services
The Placement Unit monitors youth that have been removed from their homes and placed in Group Homes. The Juvenile Special Services Unit monitors the Juvenile Drug Court Treatment Program, the Juvenile Mental Health Court Program (CALA), the Placement Intervention Program (PIP), the Placement Unit, the Wraparound Program and the Supportive Therapeutic Options Program (STOP). Juvenile Special Services is also partially responsible for departmental compliance with Title IV-E regulations.
Alternative Programs
Silver Star Resource Center
The Silver Star Resource Center (SSRC) is a collaborative of agencies that provide prevention and intervention services for at-risk, probation, and gang involved youth and their families. This provides a “one-stop” source for juvenile services at a centralized location Probation also works closely with the Monterey County Office of Education Alternative Education and Community Schools and is partially responsible for departmental compliance with Title IV-E regulations.
Silver Star Resource Center Referral [PDF] English
Silver Star Resource Center Referral [PDF] Spanish
Silver Star Youth Program at Rancho Cielo
The Silver Star Youth Program at Rancho Cielo (SSYP) primary goal is to improve the health and well-being of our area’s youth by reducing risk factors. This is accomplished by combining supervision, schooling, counseling, job training, and after school classes for at risk youth and juveniles on probation. The Silver Star Youth Program also oversees the Juvenile Drug Court Treatment Program and is partially responsible for departmental compliance with Title IV-E regulations.
The Silver Star Youth Program opened in 2000. In 2004, the SSYP moved to the old 100-acre Boy’s Ranch property just north of Salinas, thereby enhancing the existing services.
The Silver Star Youth Program’s multi-disciplinary staff represents five agencies: Monterey County Probation Department, Monterey County Office of Education, Monterey County Department of Children's Behavioral Health, Turning Point of the Central Coast, and Visiting Nurses Association.
The Silver Star Youth Program is a safe place for select youth, who are motivated to change their lives. Silver Star Youth Program staff will support the youth in their efforts to:
- Continue their education
- Become responsible members of their communities
- Learn marketable work and life skills
- Feel good about themselves and others
Clerical Support
Clerical staff assigned to the Juvenile Division provides general support services, including language translation services for clients, victims, and probation officers. Clerical staff are assigned to each unit within the division. Data entry and the collection of statistical information are also important functions of clerical staff. Other administrative duties include preparing reports to various local and state agencies.