Juvenile Probation Department 2001 Gender Analysis Updates

Juvenile Probation Department

2001 Gender Analysis Update

 

On September 26, 2001, the Juvenile Probation Department presented an update to the CEDAW Task Force, as reflected in the following Minutes from that meeting:

 

Gender analysis update by the Juvenile Probation Department (JPD)
Liz Jackson-Simpson, Director of Community Services, and Julie Posadas, Director of Girls Services, presented information on the Juvenile Probation Department (JPD) progress in addressing CEDAW recommendations.

Ms. Posadas coordinates the gender specific services for girls in Juvenile Hall. She has developed a schedule of gender specific services for girls in both the girls only G1 Unit and the Co-Ed unit and is able to ensure that 100% of the girls in the hall participate in the programs. She also provides a mandatory training for all Juvenile Hall staff on the issues and needs of girls in the juvenile justice system including gender specific services. Last year, Ms. Posadas's program was funded through federal TANF funds. This year the program is funded through state AB 1913 funds. The total cost of the program for this year is $350,000 that includes funding for community-based programs.

Ms. Posadas identified a problem with a high percentage of girls being arrested for drugs and prostitution.San Francisco is becoming a magnet for youth prostitution with girls from other counties arrested here on prostitution charges and then released their home counties where they do not have gender specific services available. She discussed the need for an inter-county response to this problem since it crosses county jurisdictions. A need for programs for girls focusing on economic development, particularly marketable and transferable skills for girls, was identified.

Ms. Posadas and Ms. Jackson-Simpson provided information about the community organizations currently contracting with JDP, which are renewed contracts from previous years. A list of current contracts and services was provided. The "GIRLS Project" that had previously been funded has not been renewed and will not be replaced at this time. There are still no residential services for girls in the juvenile justice system; Task Force members indicated this is problematic as it contributes to higher retention of girls in Juvenile Hall.

JPD is seeking funding from the Department of Labor and Department of Justice for the Youth Offenders Initiative, a proposed collaborative project that would focus on girl specific services. JPD is also working with the DA's office to get victim compensation money for girls in the juvenile justice system, which would create more accessibility to resources for girls particularly for much needed intervention and mental health services. Questions were raised about current allocation of resources at JDP. As indicated, almost all the funds for girls' services are temporary money, due to run out in the next few years.

Regarding "work-life" policies, the JPD offers trainings on personnel policies and issues.

Regarding collection and analysis of statistics, JPD is starting a new assessment project called PRIDE, which will provide current statistics and outcomes for youth in the system. Copies of a Report and Recommendations to the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department: Reducing Crowding and Disproportionality at San Francisco Juvenile Hall by James Bell & Sue Burrell were distributed to Task Force members. The PRIDE data collection system will address statistical and data collection which will allow the department to track the progress of CEDAW recommendations regarding gender as well as recommendations in the James Bell report.