California – the latest state to propose structural changes to financing juvenile justice

by Kids Forward | January 11, 2011

Home 9 Youth Justice 9 California – the latest state to propose structural changes to financing juvenile justice
In his recently released state budget proposal, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed eliminating the state’s juvenile correctional institutions, instead reserving state capacity only for the most serious and violent felony youth and transferring funds and responsibility for less serious offenders to the local level.  This is at least one step ahead of the Arizona Governor’s proposal (that was rejected by the legislature) in which Governor Brewer simply proposed closing the state’s institutions and saving the money for something else – not sending resources to the local level.  While questions remain about funding aftercare services for those youth who do return from a state institution and the capacity/ability of counties to absorb and adequately ”gear up” for dealing with more youth locally, in some ways this approach represents an example of structural changes that have the potential to encourage more cost-effective local efforts.  Whether this significant a change can be pulled off in a state as big and complex as California, we’ll see!

Join us to build a Wisconsin where
every child and family thrives.

Recent

State Budget: Early Care & Education

State Budget: Early Care & Education

Main Takeaways Child care is unaffordable and unavailable for too many working families. Child care staff are severely underpaid and this critical industry is on the verge of collapse unless there is continued economic support. The Governor's budget takes several...

State Budget: Immigration

State Budget: Immigration

Main Takeaways Wisconsin is home to nearly 300,000 immigrants, and they are vital contributors to the economic and social fabric of our communities. Despite their significant contributions, immigrants face barriers in their daily lives. The Governor’s 2025-27 State...

The Room Where it Happens: Attend a State Budget Hearing

The Room Where it Happens: Attend a State Budget Hearing

In February, Governor Evers proposed his state budget. Read our reaction here and some of our analysis here (more to come soon!).  The Governor’s proposals now go to the Joint Committee on Finance (often called the Joint Finance Committee or JFC). This powerful...

Sign up for Emails

Your address helps us identify your legislators and the most relevant messages to send you.