As the county wrestles with improving security at the boys ranch
in Morgan Hill, it
’s hoping for $1 million in federal aid to institute new case
management and peer counseling programs at the Muriel Wright
Residential Center in south San Jose.
As the county wrestles with improving security at the boys ranch in Morgan Hill, it’s hoping for $1 million in federal aid to institute new case management and peer counseling programs at the Muriel Wright Residential Center in south San Jose.
The Wright center houses girls between the ages of 13 and 18 and boys as old as 15. Santa Clara County Deputy Chief Probation Officer Kathy Duque said the center’s smaller size and younger, mixed population make it a more attractive target for funding than the William F. James Ranch for boys 15-18.
“Best practice programs operate better in small capacity facilties,” Duque said. “If we get money, and we’re successful, hopefully we can extended that to the James Ranch.”
The county would use the federal aid to add staff and implement a series of small group case management programs, allowing wards to receive more one-on-one supervision and spend more time in peer-counseling programs that stress individual responsibility and accountability.
Funds would also go toward developing aftercare programs incorporating social workers, psychologists, educators and wards’ families, and construction projects to give the ranch a more homey atmosphere.
The programs are modeled on those used in Missouri, which has received national attention for its low-security, positive reinforcement approach to juvenile rehabilitation with an emphasis on lowering recidivism rates. Currently, nearly four of 10 wards at the Wright Center return to the juvenile justice system after their release.
County Supervisor Liz Kniss said the high recidivism rate is due in part to the county’s failure to adequately address troubles in the lives of Wright Center wards.
“Most of these kids have multiple problems, and if you’re only dealing with the fact that they’ve broken the law, you’re not attacking the whole issue,” Kniss said. “We’re looking for a way to be able to rehabilitate kids so they’re not in and out of our system.”
Kniss said the county will not know until the fall if the $1 million is included in the federal budget.
The Wright Center is located at the top of Bernal Road in southwest San Jose near Santa Teresa Park and IBM.
Gilroy Dispatch reporter Matt King can be reached at 847-7240 or mk***@gi************.com.
