About OYCR

OYCR was created within the Health and Human Services Agency to focus on youth who are court involved through a health-oriented, evidence-based rehabilitative mindset that is informed by an understanding of youth and their development.  

The establishment of OYCR within the Health & Human Services Agency aligns with recent research on brain science and healthy youth development.  Young people’s identities are shaped by their experiences, and traumatic experiences early in life make it more likely that youth will develop risky behaviors. In order to develop rehabilitative solutions that increase a youth’s opportunity to successfully transition out of incarceration, those solutions need to take into account an individual’s adverse childhood experiences and that is what OYCR does.

Counties are eligible to receive funds annually from the Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant (JJRBG) program. To be eligible for such funds, counties must deliver a plan that includes a number of elements that address a range of topics including how the funds will be used to provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate services and programs.

All revised plans have been posted on OYCR’s webpage along with OYCR’s summary of the plans.

The DJJ closed on June 30, 2023. Henceforth, additional youth will not be committed to the DJJ except under the exception provided in the California Welfare and Institutions code, which allows youth being transferred to adult court to be cared for by the DJJ temporarily.

Research shows that youth who are court-involved are more successful when they remain connected to their families and communities. Youth who are involved in the justice system and remain in their communities have lower recidivism rates and are more prepared for their transition back into the community. For this reason, California decided to close its state youth facilities and return the responsibility for the care of all youth who are court-involved to their local jurisdictions. 

OYCR does not have a direct role in caring for youth who are court-involved. Instead, OYCR’s role is to support counties in trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate programs for the youth in their care and to ensure that they have access to the best research and understanding of evidence-based programs. OYCR’s role is also to receive and investigate complaints from youth and families related to the juvenile justice system, and to evaluate the effectiveness of local programs. 

Young people are resilient. When proven approaches are used, many of the impacts of adverse childhood experiences can actually be reversed. OYCR’s focus on a health and healing approach is a way to celebrate, honor, and leverage the resilience of youth who are court-involved to thrive, despite the adverse experiences they may have faced. 

OYCR and DJJ were two separate entities within different agencies who both have different responsibilities. OYCR is part of the California Health and Human Services Agency and is responsible for identifying and promoting trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, evidence-based practices for the rehabilitation of youth who are court-involved, among other functions. 

DJJ was part of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and was responsible for the youth within its care until its closure on June 30, 2023.

The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) is an independent Board composed of 13 appointed members with a staff of approximately 121. With respect to juvenile facilities, the BSCC is responsible for establishing regulations for juvenile facilities, inspecting facilities to determine suitability, and more. BSCC has Field Representatives assigned to each juvenile facility who conduct inspections and provide technical assistance related to compliance with the regulations. 

OYCR is not a regulatory body but has the mandate to provide technical assistance, policy leadership, and the promotion of best practices in relation to the care of youth. 

There are two key areas of overlap in OYCR and BSCC’s responsibilities. First, OYCR is charged with overseeing the regulations that BSCC is developing relating to Secure Youth Treatment Facilities. Second, OYCR is charged with overseeing all juvenile grants administered by the BSCC and will assume the administration of juvenile grants no later than January 1, 2025.

OYCR is committed to maintaining strong relationships with these individuals and has regular contact with county probation officers, youth advocates, representatives from the judicial branch, district attorneys, and more. All of these views are critical to strengthening the cause for youth who are court-involved.