PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: October 7, 2024
Subject: Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council Applicants for Vacancies
Submitted For: Esa Ehmen-Krause, County Probation Officer
Department: Probation
Referral No: n/a
Referral Name: Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council
Presenter: Esa Ehmen-Krause
Contact: Deborah Caldwell 925-313-4188
Referral History:
The Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC) is a multiagency advisory body that informs the development and implementation of a countywide juvenile justice plan composed of several critical parts, including, but not limited to an assessment of existing law enforcement, probation, education, mental health, health, social services, drug and alcohol and youth services resources which specifically target both at-promise as well as system-involved youth, and their families. The JJCC also coordinates on a countywide basis the work of those governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in activities designed to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime and delinquency in the greater community, develop information and intelligence-sharing systems to ensure that county actions are fully coordinated, and provide data and appropriate outcome measures.
The JJCC is composed of 20 members:
Twelve (12) Ex-Officio Members include the Chief Probation Officer (Chair), District Attorney’s Office representative, Public Defender’s Office representative, Sheriff’s Office representative, Board of Supervisors’ representative, Employment and Human Services Department representative, Behavioral Health Services representative, Alcohol and Other Drugs Division representative, Public Health representative, Juvenile Justice Commission Chair, City Police Department representative, County Office of Education or a School District representative.
Eight (8) additional JJCC members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors as follows:
- four (4) At-Large community members, residing or working within Contra Costa County,
- two (2) Community-Based Organization Representatives, and
- two (2) At-Large youth, fourteen to twenty-five years old and residing or working within Contra Costa County.
The JJCC currently has two (2) vacant At-Large youth seats, 14 to 25 years old residing or working within Contra Costa County, and one (1) At-Large Community Member seat residing or working within Contra Costa County. The recruitment process to fill these three (3) vacancies began on August 22, 2024.
Referral Update:
The Probation Department issued a Press Release on August 22, 2024 (Attachment A) to recruit for its three vacant seats. A total of twelve (12) applications were received and all twelve (12) met the requirements by the September 20, 2024, deadline. The twelve (12) eligible candidate’s applications are included as Attachment B with personal contact information and signatures redacted. The following candidates have specifically applied for at-large youth seats: George Balan, Rojan Mikael Habon, Rachel Lei, and Maxwell Prost.
The applicants have been invited to participate in a public interview scheduled for this Public Protection Committee meeting. A summary of the information provided by the twelve eligible applicants is included as Attachment C. Additionally, a list of the JJCC membership has been included as Attachment D as well for reference.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
1. CONSIDER applicants for the existing vacancies on the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC);
2. DETERMINE appointment recommendations for Board of Supervisor consideration to fill the three vacancies with two-year terms; and
3. PROVIDE any further direction to staff, as necessary.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
No fiscal impact.