Symposium to Highlight Work in Juvenile Justice

Symposium to Highlight County Probation’s Work in Juvenile Justice System

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and the Riverside County Probation Department are hosting a first-of-its-kind Riverside County Juvenile Justice System Symposium today, Thursday, March 18.

The inaugural virtual conference will provide briefings, data and updates on the juvenile criminal justice system, covering services and resources provided by the county probation department and community organizations in support of youth in the probation system.

Supervisor Perez, who organized a probation conference on the adult justice system a little over a year ago, encourages community members to learn about the juvenile justice system by attending this symposium.

“The Adult Probation System Symposium was an outstanding event for many reasons, so it was my goal to continue the symposium series with another event focused on our youth,” Supervisor Perez said in a prepared statement. “This is an educational event that will give us a better understanding of juvenile justice, and all the services and programs that exist. It’s a great foundation to further conversations such as addressing the re‑entry needs of youth coming into the community, providing the different programs and services when youth are in juvenile detention and very critically how else we can work on preventing youth from entering this system. I appreciate our Probation Department for its instrumental role in putting this valuable event together, and I invite the community to attend.”

The event will be streamed on Facebook from 9 a.m. to noon March 18 by clicking here.

The juvenile justice system involves minors who are convicted of criminal offenses, with the goal of rehabilitation. That system is administered by the California Division of Juvenile Justice and, at a local level, by juvenile court and the Riverside County Probation Department.

“Our department has embraced juvenile justice reforms to dramatically lower the number of youth on probation over the last decade,” said Riverside County Chief Probation Officer Ron Miller II. “We look forward to sharing how we have incorporated educational, behavioral health and community led programs to engage youth and their families at the point of need, rather than wait for delinquent or criminal behavior to occur.”