Juveniles: juvenile justice.

Existing law provides that a person who is under 18 years of age and who commits a crime is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, as specified. Under existing law, the court may, in some cases, commit a ward of the juvenile court to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities. Additionally, existing law provides that a minor who is convicted in criminal court may be committed to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities. This bill would, as of January 1, 2013, prohibit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities, from accepting wards and youthful offenders. Additionally, this bill would abolish the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities, as of June 1, 2014. The bill would create the Juvenile Justice Rehabilitation Best Practices Fund as of January 1, 2013, and would require counties to apply to the Board of State and Community Corrections for grants from that fund to contract with service providers and to renovate facilities to provide custodial and noncustodial rehabilitative services for juveniles. The Juvenile Justice Rehabilitation Best Practices Fund would be continuously appropriated from the General Fund. By increasing the duties of local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would further establish the Juvenile Justice Realignment Fund as of January 1, 2013. The bill would continuously appropriate specific amounts from the General Fund to the Juvenile Justice Realignment Fund. Under the bill, each county would receive a quarterly allocation from this fund pursuant to a specified formula. The bill would also grant each county a minimum block grant beginning in the 2012–13 fiscal year. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.