Amador Water Agency

AB 109 will be implemented this year and will reduce its Institutional Count by about 700 prisoners and will be eliminating the overcrowding in the gymnasiums by March 2012. (Fact #1)

Overcrowding continues to be a problem at MCSP. This is complicated by budget issues. An early release program for inmates has become necessary. (Fact #1)

As programs are eliminated, opportunities for rehabilitation are lost and will have a negative effect on inmates. (Facts #5, 6, 7 )

The wards at PGYCC must be California residents.

Certain mental and physical health requirements must be met. Medical problems can be an obstacle to being placed at PGYCC. A case management worker from the Intake Unit determines an individual's competence in advance. Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp

PGYCC's Limitation Parole Requirements document specifies that an individual must have between 6 to 36 months remaining before release.

There is zero tolerance of gang activity at PGYCC. Each young man must make a commitment to stop all gang involvement at the time of his assignment.

The average stay for a ward of PGYCC is 13 months. Most are expected to be on a CALFIRE crew after an extensive training program. Others are there for support services.

The CDCR-DJJ has a four-point program: GROUP LIVING Individuals learn respect for the rules, staff and how to improve interaction with others. COUNSELING Participation is required. Each individual is assigned a Youth Correctional Counselor who ensures the Ward gets the counseling appropriate to his needs. The average youth-to-counselor ratio is less than 7 to 1. Case conferences are held every 30 days. EDUCATION The high school diploma program is administered by NA Chaderjian High School located at the Stockton facility. Graduation is the number one goal. Higher education can be obtained through college courses designed for incarcerated students. EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS The needs of an individual are identified and a plan is set up based upon those needs. Upon parole, each youth is provided with 3to 7 job referrals.

Staff receives training in violence prevention and control and the use of force. Mental health problems are quickly identified and a counselor referral is made. There are no psychotropic or behavior control drugs administered.

A youth count is conducted every 30 minutes, whether they are participating on strike teams, in community crews, or at the facility.

Privileges are given on a phase system; those at a higher phase get more privileges. This system encourages them to work harder, attain their educational goals, and be more productive members of their crews. Any credits or points earned on the phase system may contribute to an early parole. Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp

The daily Physical Training (PT) program requires each individual to run, work out in the weight room and participate in evening sports. All are encouraged to participate in competitive athletic programs. A sport field is under construction and the staff hopes that other entities in the community will hold sporting events at the camp. At this time, PGYCC participates in the Pine Grove Softball and Jackson Baseball Leagues.

An individual "Corrective Action Plan" is developed for each youth to help him adjust to his program. If he is unable to adapt to PGYCC requirements, he can be returned to a higher security level institution.

The primary responsibility of PGYCC is to assist in fire fighting. CALFIRE supervises a total of four Type1 Hand Crews, consisting of 15 individuals per crew and a Captain. CALFIRE takes strike teams throughout California.

The PGYCC employability training is conducted in partnership with CALFIRE. Each youth is given a year-round employment assignment. During the summer, hand crews participate in statewide fire suppression. In winter, the crews perform tasks at the county and city level, referred to as Grade Projects.

Grade Projects are community services work. These include brush removal, creek maintenance, and other contracted projects. The community work crew can only benefit small city and county government entities.

Some agencies using the community work crew are charged for their services, but no more than $ 200/day. That amount helps PGYCC to re-coup its cost.

Crew members are paid by voucher system. One half of any money earned goes toward victim restitution. FINDINGS: