Juvenile Hall

The primary function of Juvenile Hall is to provide temporary, safe, and secure detention for youths beyond the normal controls of the community. When, by their actions, a youth presents a threat to other persons or property, they may lawfully be placed in temporary custody until such time as the individual is released to an authorized person or agency.

Juvenile Hall is vested with the responsibility to detain delinquent youths while they are pending their Juvenile Court Hearings, serving short term commitments, or out of home placement in a foster/group home, camp or other institution. A very small percentage of youth apprehended by law enforcement agencies are actually detained in Juvenile Hall and the balance are released to their parents. For youth who remain in Juvenile Hall, a number of services are provided during the residents' temporary stay.

Secure physical care Assessment and treatment services A comprehensive school program Medical and Mental Health Services Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling A Diagnostic Program for observation and recommendation to the Probation Office and the Juvenile Court Volunteer Program Community volunteers provide “friendly visiting,” spiritual counseling, haircuts, tutoring, and library services.
	Education: School classrooms are located on each individual unit and are staffed by one teacher and one teacher's assistant. There is also a school principal assigned not only to the Court School's Program, which includes the Juvenile Hall, but to Community School sites as well.
The facilities used by the Juvenile Hall were built between 1950 and 1953 and originally operated by the California Youth Authority as a Girls' School. The State of California abandoned the detention facility in the late 1960's, after sitting vacant for several years. Sonoma County purchased the site and buildings in 1977. The buildings, configurations, and appearance have remained essentially unchanged since they were constructed nearly 50 years ago. Numerous studies have found the existing facilities inadequate, and in 2002 the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a building plan for a new Juvenile Justice Center.
	The new Juvenile Justice Center will include a new 140-bed juvenile hall, offices for Juvenile Probation, District Attorney, Public Defender, Health Services, and Education, and two Juvenile Courtrooms. The project is estimated to be completed in 2005 at a cost of approximately $64 million.

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