Voices of Youth Justice: Introducing OYCR's Youth Advisory Board
Voices of Youth Justice: Introducing OYCR’s Youth Advisory Board
“Many youth who have been inside the justice system feel unheard and limited in their opportunities to express their thoughts and experiences… By advocating for their rights and sharing stories that matter to everybody, I hope to contribute to positive change in the system and empower these youth to take an active role in shaping their futures.” — Youth Advisory Board Member
OYCR is excited to announce the launch of our new Youth Advisory Board (YAB). This group of 15 bright and resilient youth and young adults, all impacted by California’s justice system, will now take the lead—working collaboratively with us, community partners, and local governments— to ensure their perspectives are central to youth justice reform.
Our Systems Change & Equity Division began developing the idea for a YAB in early 2023 through a comprehensive discovery process. Over six months, we interviewed more than 100 young people, over 85 adults, members of community-based organizations, and stakeholders in the youth justice system across nearly all 58 counties. This exploration helped OYCR identify the key barriers faced by youth and young adults who are systems-impacted, determine how they could take a more active role in shaping the policies and practices that affect them, and ultimately establish the YAB.
Young people’s voices have often been excluded from the daily decisions that affect their lives and futures—ranging from the empathy they receive to their next steps after release. Those most affected should not be passive recipients but guide and shape the work being done across the state to create the changes in resource availability, connectivity, and more that are necessary for their success.
Just as the YAB has been built by young people, so too have its official mission and values, which will inform the future work of OYCR and California’s youth justice system. According to the experts, the YAB members themselves:
The Youth Advisory Board empowers and fosters the growth of young people by creating a respectful, trustworthy space for engagement and collaboration on key policies and projects. The YAB works to bridge gaps between counties and among youth and young adults, helping them connect, uplift, and advocate for one another. By partnering with communities and systems directly, the Board is actively transforming harmful, failing structures into those of care and success.
The groundwork for the formal YAB was laid further by a temporary “YAB Workgroup” of eight young people and Systems Change & Equity staff during the past year. This smaller group has already contributed to various projects, including the dissemination of the Youth Bill of Rights and the development of a Youth Dignity Guide for young people across the state, setting the stage for future accomplishments.
Starting in October 2024, the YAB convenes regularly to provide their insights on key initiatives.
The YAB is more than just a new initiative for OYCR; it represents the charge toward a more just, equitable, and compassionate future. As one YAB member said at the launch, “It’s never too late to restart, to do better.”
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the YAB, please contact OYCR Consultant Susie Rivera: susie.rivera@calhhs.gov. For those seeking more information, please email Susie and/or yab@chhs.ca.gov.