Meltdown in Juvenile Probation

by Randy Shaw‚ Jul. 19‚ 2006

(Part 1 of "Meltdown in Juvenile Probation" can be seen below)

The Juvenile Probation Department (JPD) stated that a funding decision would be made prior to July 1, the start of the new fiscal year and the day after the termination of JPD’s current contracts with non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs). It struck many CBOs that the proposed schedule was a fantasy. CBOs complained amongst themselves that the process was failing. Without contingency planning, it became evident that the JPD leadership was not thinking first of the kids in its care when it started the RFP process. The kids certainly knew it, and several showed up at City Hall on July 3 to ask the local government who would help since the contracts had all ended.

Some CBOs feared that their programs would suffer simply from the delay, and not a denial of funds. For most non-profits in the city, continuing to staff and implement programs is nearly impossible when the money suddenly disappears. The JPD’s omission in not providing emergency funds for continuing care signaled to the CBOs and the communities that neither the kids, nor the safety of the public were priorities for the head of the JPD. Because the CBOs generally provide services for kids at greatest risk of re-offending, these youth will be the first to return to juvenile hall on probation violations or new offenses if they lose the stability and support of their case managers.

According to CBOs still waiting for a funding decision, JPD failed to consider the possibility of delay. No mention was made about emergency funding should agencies have to continue operations under dead contracts, nor did the JPD discuss transition planning in the event that an agency with a full caseload of kids suddenly found itself outside of the funding pool.

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