Juvenile Division

The Juvenile Division is responsible for processing all juvenile offenders referred to the juvenile justice system in Monterey County. It is comprised of three major work units: Court Services, Field Services, and Special Services.

The Juvenile Division’s goal is the protection of the community and it holds juvenile offenders accountable through a process of graduated sanctions while addressing their most serious problems.

Juvenile Court Services

This unit prepares reports for the Juvenile Court and makes recommendations regarding detention, terms and conditions of probation, program referrals, and placement. The Intake Unit processes referrals from various law-enforcement agencies within Monterey County as well as referrals transferred from other counties.

Juvenile Field Services

This unit is responsible for the supervision of all minors on formal and informal juvenile probation not otherwise assigned to other programs within the department. In addition, juvenile probation officers provide supplemental law-enforcement services at special events, such as the Salinas Valley Fair, the Monterey County Fair, the Monterey Bay Blues Festival, high school football games, the Northridge Mall in Salinas. The division also maintains many community-based partnerships, such as the Campus-Based Probation Officer Program, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Healthy Families program, and the Soledad School Community Policing Partnership

Juvenile Special Services

Juvenile Special Services is responsible for departmental compliance with Title IV-E regulations. The department provides training in time study and case plan development and audits juvenile files to ensure that the department is meeting federal and state mandates. In addition, the Juvenile Drug Court Treatment Program, the Victim Restitution Program, and Placement unit are responsible for the facilitation of these programs. Placement unit monitors youth that have been removed from their homes and placed in Group Homes. SB163 Wraparound Program and the Supportive Therapeutic Option Program are monitored out of Juvenile Special Services.

Clerical Support

Clerical staff are assigned to each unit to provide support services, including language translating services for clients, victims, and probation officers.

The clerical staff plays a key role supporting all programs within the Probation Department. The administrative responsibilities include preparing and maintaining accurate records of citations and bookings; petitions; record sealing; packets and documents for wards transferring or terminating wardship. The clerical staff has a broad understanding of the law and legal procedure and their complex responsibilities are critical to the operation of the agency.