17 Nov Contra Costa County Seeks Applicants for Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council

By Michael J. Fitzgerald

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has put out the call for volunteers to serve on the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.

The 20-member council has five vacancies, including three at-large positions. Two must come from community-based organizations.

Appointees serve two-year terms.

The council, which comprises multiple groups, advises on the development and implementation of a countywide juvenile justice plan.

That plan includes assessing existing law enforcement, probation, education and social and physical and mental health services as well as drug and alcohol and youth services resources.

The council also coordinates the work of governmental and non-governmental organizations that work to reduce juvenile crime and delinquency in the community. It also works to develop information and intelligence-sharing systems to ensure that county actions are fully coordinated.

The council is composed of 20 members:

Ten are chosen by virtue of another position they hold in the county. Those ex-officio members are:

• Chief Probation Officer, who is council chair
• District Attorney’s Office representative
• Public Defender’s Office representative
• Sheriff’s Office representative
• Board of Supervisors’ representative
• Employment and Human Services Department representative
• Behavioral Health Services representative
• Alcohol and Other Drugs Division representative
• Public Health representative
• Juvenile Justice Commission Chair

Ten additional members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors:

• City police department representative
• County Office of Education or school district representative
• Four at-large members who live or work in the county
• Two community-based organization representatives
• Two at-large youth between the ages of 14 and 21 who live or work in the county

The council meets once a month October through April and every other month the remainder of the year. Members may serve on two subcommittees, which meet monthly.

The subcommittees are Data and Services; Prevention, Intervention and Community Engagement; and Department of Juvenile Justice Realignment Planning.

Application forms can be found online or obtained from the clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000.

Applicants may complete and submit the form online or download the PDF form, which can be emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us or mailed to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Office at 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 3.

All applicants who meet the deadline will be invited to the public interview process conducted by the Board of Supervisors’ Public Protection Committee. This committee will recommend a selection of applicants for the Board of Supervisors to appoint to the Racial Justice Oversight Body.