Security problems at the William F. James Boys Ranch here in
Morgan Hill have been much in the news of late
– as well they should be.
Security problems at the William F. James Boys Ranch here in Morgan Hill have been much in the news of late – as well they should be.
Neighbors of the county Juvenile Probation Department’s facility northeast of the city were understandably concerned when four teenage boys walked away from the unfenced site.
We applaud neighbors and city officials who are pressuring county officials to increase security at the facility and communication between agencies when escapes occur.
Even before the recent escapes, improvements in both areas were under way. We urge everyone involved to use this incident as impetus to keep on that important track.
We recognize that this is a difficult mandate, especially in the face of budget cuts by the county and state. But as we’ve said before, it’s often too easy for officials to fall back on the “no money” excuse, so it’s up to citizens to not allow them to get away with it.
Where officials choose to spend taxpayers’ money is how we judge their priorities, and safety should be a top priority.
At the same time, we caution worried residents to remember the valuable role the boys ranch fills.
“James Ranch is a juvenile rehabilitation facility,” Chief Probation Officer Sheila Mitchell told reporter Marilyn Dubil.
Rehabilitation is the key word in that statement. Boys sent to the James Ranch typically have been convicted of less serious offenses than those sent to juvenile hall. And the most serious offenders are sentenced to terms in the California Youth Authority – essentially a state prison for those under age.
Let’s make sure we give troubled teens a real chance to turn their lives around before we send them to juvenile hall with the more hardened youths who can give them a real education in becoming criminals.
Perhaps neighbors and county officials can study youth ranch programs in neighboring counties as well as out of state to find the right formula to enhance security while keeping an environment that will allow the teens to choose a better path in life.
One option might be the electronic anklets that are now commonplace and allow monitoring a person in their home (in this case the ranch).
The possibility of putting up a fence has been discussed in the past but the idea never moved foward, as the looped wire on top chain-link fences, reminiscent of a high-security prison, did not appeal to the neighbors at the time.
“We are committed to seeing the youth succeed in this program, and we are also committed to being good neighbors,” Mitchell said.
That’s exactly the right goal. We call on neighbors, city leaders and county officials to work together to achieve it – for the future of our youth and our communities.
To respond to this editorial or comment on issues in the community, e-mail [email protected], mail to Editor, Morgan Hill Times, 30 E. Third St., 95037, or drop off at our office in the downtown.
