Response to Grand Jury Report: Utilization of the Ventura County Juvenile*

Police departments within the County and the Sheriff's Department have extensive written policies and procedures regarding the detention, arrest, and disposition of juvenile offenders as required by State law. <b>Response:</b> We concur with this finding.

The majority of Officers interviewed by the Grand Jury contact Intake to receive prior approval before transporting juveniles to the Juvenile Justice Facility (JJF). The Grand Jury was unable to find any instance where doing so is a specific written policy. Response: We concur with this finding.

Officers said that they believe all felony and violent misdemeanor offenses should qualify for booking into the JJF. Response: We disagree with this finding. We do not believe that violent misdemeanors and all felonies should automatically meet the RAI criteria for booking. Certain violent misdemeanors such as school fights and simple batteries are not always worthy of booking. Likewise certain felonies such as thefts should not automatically qualify for 1425 Dowell Drive • Ventura, California 93003-7362 • 805.339.4400 • venturapd.org - booking. As we mention in response F-65 we do feel the RAI should be constantly assessed in order that it aligns with the overall goal of public safety.

Felony and violent misdemeanor crimes do not automatically meet the RAI criteria for booking into the JJF. <b>Response:</b> We concur with this finding.

Officers expressed concern that some chronic repeat offenders did not meet the RAI criteria for acceptance into the JJF and expressed belief that such offenders should be accepted. <b>Response:</b> We concur in part with this finding. The RAI is a useful tool designed to separate lower risk juveniles that can be released, with or without restrictions, from higher risk juveniles that need to be detained. However, its focus is on adjudicated offenses within the prior 24 months as opposed to mere arrests. Officers may not have the same access to information on adjudicated cases as JJF personnel. A downside to using adjudications rather than arrests is in the instances where juveniles accumulate numerous offenses within a short time. The RAI also places a low point value on prior misdemeanor adjudicated offenses. The Ventura Police Department feels it is a good practice to regularly assess and, if necessary, fine-tune the RAI. The Ventura Police Department would look forward to participating in this effort.

The Probation Agency states that it has made police departments and the Sheriff's Department aware of the RAI and of JDAI by contacting police chiefs and by attending some shift briefings on an ongoing basis. Response: We concur with this finding.