PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: 03/16/2026
Subject: Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council Applicants for Vacancies
Submitted For: Esa Ehmen-Krause, Chief Probation Officer
Department: Probation
Referral Name: Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council
Presenter: Chief 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 which 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 voting 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 one (1) upcoming vacant At-Large seat, residing or working within Contra Costa County and one (1) upcoming vacant Community Based Organization (CBO) seat. The recruitment process to fill these two (2) upcoming vacancies began on January 26, 2026.
Referral Update:
The Probation Department issued a Press Release on January 26, 2026 (Attachment A) to recruit for one (1) upcoming At-Large seat vacancy and one (1) upcoming Community-Based Organization seat vacancy, both of which will expire on March 19, 2026. A total of eight (8) applications were received, with seven (7) meeting the requirements by the February 20, 2026, deadline. The applications of the seven eligible candidates are included as Attachment B, with personal contact information and signatures redacted. The following three (3) candidates have applied for the At-Large seat: Denise Coleman, Dr. Maisha Scott, and Lacharonda Taylor. Two (2) candidates have applied for the Community-Based Organization (CBO) seat: Julius VanHook and Dr. Shamawn Wright. Two (2) applicants did not specify which seat they were applying for: Shalice Otis and Miguel Santuario. All applicants have been invited to participate in a public interview scheduled for the upcoming Public Protection Committee meeting. A summary of the information provided by the seven (7) eligible applicants is included in Attachment C. Additionally, a list of the JJCC membership is included in Attachment D for reference.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
1. INTERVIEW candidates for the two pending seat vacancies on the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC) with both terms expiring March 19, 2026; and
2. DETERMINE appointment recommendation(s) for Board of Supervisors consideration to fill the two (2) vacancies with terms ending March 19, 2028; and
3. PROVIDE any further direction to staff, as necessary.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
No fiscal impact.