Sacramento County – Probation officials have proposed shutting down two more local juvenile facilities, despite concerns over impacts on public safety. As part of the response to Sacramento County’s projected $187 million deficit, probation officials have suggested closing the Sacramento County Boys Ranch and the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center. This $37.4 million cost-saving measure also includes a proposal to eliminate 247 jobs. All this comes on the heels of a proposal to close another major institution, the Preston Youth Facility in Ione. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been considering closing a number of correction facilities and prisons as a result of the State budget crisis. “Preston is high on the list of potential closures, and if it were to close it would have a devastating impact on Ione and Amador County,” said Forster. No further word over the proposed Preston closure has been reported, and one representative of Assemblywoman Alyson Huber said it’s “in limbo.” About 85 youth are currently housed at the Boys Ranch, with an estimated 50 percent of them classified as gang members, according to the Probation Department. Some 275 offenders between 16 and 18 were sent to the Boys Ranch last year for terms ranging from three months to a year. Another 110 offenders between the ages of 14 and 16 are being held at Thornton. More than 500 youths spent time at Thornton last year. Opponents to the idea are alarmed over the untold number of convicted criminals who would return to their neighborhoods without serving full sentences. But Nav Gil, Sacramento County chief operations officer, called the probation proposal "very preliminary” and said it has not yet been reviewed by the county executive’s office. The proposed cuts would represent a 46 percent reduction in the county's $69.6 million in general fund spending on probation this year. The closure of the two Sacramento facilities would save the county $8.7 million and $6.6 million each. The elimination of 247 jobs would result in some $22 million salary savings, and drastically reduce supervision for the lion's share of the county's 15,000 adult probationers to intake interviews and paperwork reviews. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009 00:38
Proposed Youth Facility Closures
Sacramento County – Probation officials have proposed shutting down two more local juvenile facilities, despite concerns over impacts on public safety. As part of the response to Sacramento County’s projected $187 million deficit, probation officials have suggested closing the Sacramento County Boys Ranch and the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center. This $37.4 million cost-saving measure also includes a proposal to eliminate 247 jobs. All this comes on the heels of a proposal to close another major institution, the Preston Youth Facility in Ione. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been considering closing a number of correction facilities and prisons as a result of the State budget crisis. “Preston is high on the list of potential closures, and if it were to close it would have a devastating impact on Ione and Amador County,” said Forster. No further word over the proposed Preston closure has been reported, and one representative of Assemblywoman Alyson Huber said it’s “in limbo.” About 85 youth are currently housed at the Boys Ranch, with an estimated 50 percent of them classified as gang members, according to the Probation Department. Some 275 offenders between 16 and 18 were sent to the Boys Ranch last year for terms ranging from three months to a year. Another 110 offenders between the ages of 14 and 16 are being held at Thornton. More than 500 youths spent time at Thornton last year. Opponents to the idea are alarmed over the untold number of convicted criminals who would return to their neighborhoods without serving full sentences. But Nav Gil, Sacramento County chief operations officer, called the probation proposal "very preliminary” and said it has not yet been reviewed by the county executive’s office. The proposed cuts would represent a 46 percent reduction in the county's $69.6 million in general fund spending on probation this year. The closure of the two Sacramento facilities would save the county $8.7 million and $6.6 million each. The elimination of 247 jobs would result in some $22 million salary savings, and drastically reduce supervision for the lion's share of the county's 15,000 adult probationers to intake interviews and paperwork reviews. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
