Juvenile Field Services (JFS)
Juvenile Field Services unit supervises and provides services to youth on probation throughout the entire county. The unit also reviews new juvenile citations to evaluate if they will be referred to the District Attorney or processed informally without court involvement, diversion. Diversion cases usually involve attending a class, completing an assignment or community service hours.
Juvenile Specialty Programs
The Juvenile Specialty Programs unit supervises and provides services to youth who are engaged in the Repeat Offender Prevention Program (ROPP) and Insights Juvenile Mental Health Court.
ROPP is an intensive, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary program that provides therapeutic and advocatory services for first-time justice involved probation youth. Youth who are 16.5 years old or younger and found to have risk factors in four areas such as: substance abuse, poor school attendance/performance, significant family problems, and pre-delinquent behaviors such as gangs, runaway and theft. ROPP is comprised of probation officers, marriage and family therapists, and youth advocates. All staff involved work collaboratively as a team to provide intensive services to these youth with the focus on rehabilitation, family harmony, increase school attendance, improve parental involvement, increase accountability though the completion of community service and payment of restitution, reduce gang association/activity, decrease recidivism and out-of-home placements and the reduction of violent crimes. Pro-Social events are planned for the youth to expose them to constructive activities in their communities and as an incentive for improved performance.
Insight Juvenile Mental Health Court was developed in response to the needs of a population of juvenile offenders with a mental health diagnosis and co-occurring substance abuse disorder who do not respond well to traditional rehabilitation programs and, therefore, repeatedly cycle through custodial facilities or out-of-home placements The Insights Court Team uses a multi-disciplinary approach comprised of Ventura County Superior Court, Ventura County Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Ventura County Behavioral Health, and the Ventura County Office of Education to provide intensive treatment and case management services. Eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to, youth who have a significant mental health diagnosis resulting in impaired functioning, law enforcement contact, and/or delinquent conduct. By focusing on the special needs of this target population, Insights Court team members collaboratively develop individualized case plans with the youth and establish support systems in the community to prevent out-of-home placements and hospitalizations. Services may include comprehensive mental health services, substance abuse treatment, peer parent support and other county and community-based support resources.
Intensive Supervision Services - Juveniles Unit (ISSJ)
Intensive Supervision Services unit supervises and provides services to youth who are determined to be high risk. The unit also supervises specialty cases including sex offenses, transitional aged youth (TAY) on adult probation, and the Truancy Habits Reduced Increases Vital Education.
THRIVE consists of a deputy probation officer who works closely with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Public Defender’s Office, Ventura County Public Health, and the School Attendance Review Boards (SARB). Habitual truants meet with school officials and county prosecutors to strategize ways to improve class attendance. Appropriate remedial and community referral services are made available during the SARB meetings based on the youth’s area of concern (i.e. homelessness, medical needs, transportation, etc.). Additionally, the parents and the youth may be referred to the Public Health Nurse. If these services prove ineffective, prosecutors may utilize formal court sanctions to hold truants and their parents accountable.