Juvenile Services

Out of Home Placement Services

While the Probation Department prefers not to remove a minor from the care of his/her parents or guardian, there are situations in which no other viable alternative is available. These situations include minors suffering from severe mental health difficulties or those who engage in criminal conduct so egregious that without intervention outside of the home, it is feared that the minor may pose a continued risk to himself/herself, family or community. Under these circumstances, the Probation Department may recommend the minor be placed outside of the home and their progress monitored by an assigned Probation Officer.

Departmental Commitment Program:

This program is comprised of the Juvenile Correctional Program, the Probation Camp and the Sierra Youth Center. All three of these programs are facilitated in local correctional facilities and are designed to address a variety of behavioral issues, including substance abuse problems. The Sierra Youth Center's population targets 12 to 18 year-old female juvenile offenders. The Probation Camp's population targets 15 to 18 year-old male juvenile offenders. A Probation Officer is assigned to monitor the progress of minors as they enter and pass through a variety of phases in these three programs. For a more complete description of these programs, go to Juvenile Facilites.

Placement:

Probation Officers are assigned to supervise juvenile offenders who are removed from their homes and placed in group homes and/or residential treatment programs. The youth are typically identified as emotionally disturbed, conduct disordered, mentally ill, severely alcohol/drug addicted or otherwise virtually uncontrollable in advanced stages of delinquency. These Probation Officers work cooperatively with in-state and out-of-state treatment facility providers to ensure that minors placed in their custody continue to progress behaviorally and comply with the Court's orders.