PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: November 16, 2026
Subject: Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council Applicants for Vacancies
Submitted For: Esa Ehmen-Krause
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 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.
Referral Update:
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, and 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 Probation Department issued a Press Release on September 23, 2026 (Attachment A) to recruit for one (1) vacant seat. A total of three (3) applications were received, and all three met the requirements by the deadline of November 2, 2026. The applications of the three (3) eligible candidates are included in Attachment B, with personal contact information redacted.
The following candidates have specifically applied for At-Large Community Representative seat four (4): Leah Coffin, Denise Mills, Lejon Reese
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
1. CONSIDER applicants for existing vacancies on the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC);
2. DETERMINE appointment recommendations for the Board of Supervisors' consideration to fill the four vacancies with two-year terms; and
3. PROVIDE any further direction to staff, as necessary.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
No fiscal impact.