Agency: Juvenile Justice Services

Line Item: Programs and Operations

Function

The Programs and Operations line item is the sole line item for the Division of Juvenile Justice Services. Prior to FY 2007, the Youth Parole Authority was a separate line item within the division.

Intent Language

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Division of Juvenile Justice Services line item in Item 18 of Chapter 2 Laws of Utah 2010 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2011.

The Legislature intends the Division of Juvenile Justice Services (DJJS) report back during the 2012 General Session its progress regarding the following items found in the document titled 'Human Services In-depth Budget Review - Recommendations and Follow Up' affecting the DJJS Fiscal Year 2012 appropriated budget as reported to the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on February 1, 2011: item numbers 9, 13, 14, and 15 of the Selected Major Recommendations and numbers 1, 6, and 7 of the Remaining Recommendations.

The Legislature intends that agencies maximize budgets by examining expiring leases and contracts and explore all possibilities in doing so including re-negotiating for lower lease and contract rates, planning and allowing leases to expire and moving to locations with lower costs, purchasing instead of leasing a facility, and more.

Funding Detail

Program: Administration

Function

DJJS Administration is responsible for administration of all mandated duties, division policy development, centralized fiscal services and budgetary development, program planning and evaluation, research, training, and quality assurance. DJJS Administration is also accountable for oversight and quality control of the division's activities. Program offices direct the day-to-day operations of the division. (UCA 62A-7-104(2))

In addition to administrative responsibilities, the DJJS director represents the division in a variety of settings including: division director within the Department of Human Services; member of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; member of the Sentencing Commission; and member of the Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordinating Council.

DJJS Administration consists of seven functional areas:

1. Research, Evaluation and Planning - promotes ongoing research, evaluation, and monitoring of division programs to determine their effectiveness.
2. Quality Assurance - monitors, inspects, and evaluates the daily operations of programs that provide services to delinquent youth.
3. Training - emphasizes professionalism and maintains the latest, most effective treatment methods focusing on the proper care of youth in division programs.
4. Contracting - manages contracts for group, family, and individual therapy, psychological testing and evaluation, psychiatric assessment, medication management, residential care, intensive supervision, and skills development.
5. Clinical - coordinates the treatment of youth in secure care.
6. Financial - monitors fiscal operations.
7. Volunteer Coordination - coordinates the volunteer efforts throughout the division.

Statutory Authority

• UCA 62A-7-104 (1 through 12) provides statutory guidelines for the administration of Juvenile Justice Services.
• UCA 62A-7-103 establishes the division director's position as well as outlines the qualifications and the responsibilities of the job.

Funding Detail

Program: Early Intervention Services

Function

The Early Intervention Services Program provides, through direct operation or contractual agreements, preemptive, front-end services to youth, their families, and the community in a geographic area covered by the Second, Third, and Fourth Juvenile Court districts. The program manages:

1. Receiving Centers: Non-residential facilities where law enforcement officers can take youth who have been arrested but do not meet the admission guidelines for secure detention. The staff locates parents or guardians which frees law enforcement to return to normal duties. Staff members assess the youth to determine if other interventions may be of benefit, and notify parents of resources available in the community.
2. Home Detention: Provides an alternative to secure detention for youth awaiting adjudication or placement. Youth are home in the community with daily supervision provided by qualified staff.
3. Youth Services: Provides 24-hour crisis counseling services to runaway and ungovernable youth and their families. Services attempt to keep families intact and commit resources, but short of a full intervention into the Juvenile Justice System. Services also include short-term crisis beds.
4. Diversion Services: Short-term (30 day) treatment services to non-DJJS custodial youth referred by the Juvenile Court. Programming includes intensive daily supervision, competency development, and community service/restitution.
5. Genesis Youth Center: This work program provides the opportunity for youth offenders to provide restitution to victims. Services help to maintain and operate public agencies and non-profit programs. The center also provides education and prevocational programs.

Statutory Authority

• UCA 62A-7-104 establishes statutory authority for early intervention programs
• UCA 62A-7-601 details prevention and early intervention program standards.
• UCA 62A-7-601(1) directs the establishment and operation of youth services programs
• UCA 62A-7-601(5) directs the establishment and administration of receiving centers

Funding Detail

Program: Community Programs

Function

The Community Program area provides a wide variety of services to youth, their families, and the community along the Wasatch Front. Most clients are from the Second, Third, and Fourth Juvenile Court districts. Services include case management, observation and assessment centers, community-based programs, and aftercare/transition programs. All programs have been or are being developed around the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model.

Statutory Authority

Statutory authority for Community Programs is UCA 62A-7-104 and UCA 62A-7-701. These sections provide the general operating and procedural guidelines.

Funding Detail

In FY 2011, the major source of funding for Community Programs (CP) was the General Fund, making up 91% of CP revenues. CP receives federal funds from the Title XX Social Services Block Grant and foster care (7%). Other sources of funding include dedicated credits revenue from recovery services collections (2%).

Program: Correctional Facilities

Function

Correctional Facilities provides a variety of facilities and programs that include a level of institutional or restricted living. These include:

• Secure Care - provides services for serious and repeat offenders including education, vocation, psycho-education services as well as medical care. All services are conducted within secure facilities under the supervision of DJJS staff or contracted providers.
• Detention Facilities - provide temporary care for youth under age 18 awaiting court proceedings and/or placement. A judge can commit youth to detention services for a maximum of 30 days. While in detention, youth are provided with health care as well as education and recreation programming.

Statutory Authority

The general principles and authority for this program are scattered throughout UCA 62A-7. Specific sections are noted below:

• UCA 62A-7-101 defines the terms of correctional facilities.
• UCA 62A-7-104 directs the division to operate and maintain secure facilities and programs.
• UCA 62A-7-201 through 203 and 401.5 specifically address the issues of confinement, secure facilities, detention facilities, and restrictions.

Funding Detail

Program: Rural Programs

Function

Rural Programs includes short-term detention services, secure care, case management, state supervision, observation and assessment services, community-based alternatives, home detention, work programs, shelters, receiving centers, and early intervention services all designed to meet the needs of youth offenders in rural areas of the state.

Statutory Authority

This program operates under authority derived from sections found at UCA 62A-7. The program provides a combination of services found in each of the other DJJS programs but specifically focuses on rural parts of the state.

Funding Detail

Program: Youth Parole Authority

Function

The Youth Parole Authority is responsible for parole release, rescission, revocation, and termination for youth offenders who have been committed to the division for secure confinement. The Youth Parole Authority determines when and under what conditions committed youth offenders are eligible for parole. The Parole Authority is a citizen board appointed by the Governor and acts independently of DJJS.

Statutory Authority

The governing statute of the Youth Parole Authority is within the division's section of Utah Code 62A-7.

• UCA 62A-7-501 creates the Youth Parole Authority and establishes the authorized membership, expenses, responsibilities, and procedures.
• UCA 62A-7-502 through 507 establishes parole procedures.

Funding Detail

In FY 2007, the Legislature combined the Youth Parole Authority line item with the DJJS Programs and Operations line item. The following table depicts the funding history for the Youth Parole Authority within the Programs and Operations line item.