The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors let slip through
their fingers a chance to make a bigger difference in the lives of
more troubled young men.
1. James Boys Ranch vs. Juvenile Hall
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors let slip through their fingers a chance to make a bigger difference in the lives of more troubled young men.
No one is served by keeping nonviolent young offenders in juvenile hall with violent youth who can teach them how to become worse criminals. It’s not good for the nonviolent offenders, it’s not good for taxpayers and it’s not good for society.
But supervisors elected to spend slightly less money to renovate the William F. James Boys’ Ranch rather than to expand, which would have provided more opportunities for nonviolent offenders.
The county will spend nearly $5 million to renovate the northeast Morgan Hill ranch, but will not fund a bigger expansion that would have increased the juvenile detention and rehabilitation center’s capacity from 84 beds to 108.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 last month to pursue about $13 million in state grant funds to renovate the 50-year old facility on Malaguerra Avenue. If the county wins the grant, it will provide $4,935,200 in matching funds.
2. Expansion vs. renovation
The expansion’s opponents argued that many juvenile offenders are best reformed through placement in social service programs that provide treatment and counseling but are less restrictive and less costly. Supporters of the ranch expansion, which was proposed by Probation Chief Sheila Mitchell, say that the rate of “more serious” youthful offenders who are a bigger threat to society is growing, and placing such people in the community would be unsafe.
Supervisor Don Gage, who represents South County, said the cost of expansion is a worthy one despite a $220 million budget deficit looming next year.
Gage explained that the waiting list of offenders to be placed at the James Ranch would be shortened with an expansion. That would save money in the long run because the ranch is effective in reducing the number of repeat offenders.
“There’s no rehabilitation at juvenile hall – just incarceration,” said Gage. “The ranch has programs (the offenders) have to complete while they’re at the ranch. After they complete the programs, the recidivism rate is very low. If they don’t complete these programs, then they’re back in the cycle.”
Perhaps James Boys Ranch isn’t ideal for all nonviolent offenders, but it’s better than where they’re currently being housed.
It’s time that everyone – elected officials, probation department administrators and the general public – remember that it’s not wise to sacrifice improvement in pursuit of perfection.
