Text & Photography Julian Lucas
Published December 20, 2021 7:47am
Over the weekend, two corner streets in La Verne were filled with angry residents protesting the state's proposal to transfer juvenile offenders who have committed more serious crimes to a county-run camp on Stephens Ranch Road. The facilities Camps Paige and Afflerbaugh presently house low-level offenders.
Although the permanent site hasn’t been approved by the probation oversight board, according to the commission, it will be receiving considerable security modifications. The county-run facilities will offer a less prison-like or institutionalized-style environment, and will contribute to rehabilitation.
La Verne’s Mayor Tim Hepburn said he will “continue to support concerned residents and fight” to keep the level 4 facility out of the city. He also said,
”They don’t need to be next to our homes, send them all to the desert!”
”They need to build more prisons!” Some residents shouted.
The truth is that not all current institutions have the infrastructure or processes in place to deliver the "least restrictive acceptable environment" needed under SB 823 at the county level. Again, this setting would be as punishment-free as possible while still being suitable and safe for the youth, staff, and community.
A Glendora resident, who attended in support of the La Verne community, directed her frustrations at Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon. She said she was there to “send Gascon a message.” She stated, “You cannot reimagine crime, rape, murder, arson and other things that hurts our family. Gascon should be working on reimagining family values. (Listen Below)
When District Attorney George Gascon was running for election in Los Angeles he vowed to stop the prosecution of youth as adults in November of 2020, during his race against Jackie Lacey who was the current DA. Senate Bill 823 was actually introduced at the beginning of 2020 on January 10, 2020. Gascon didn’t take office in December 2020. History SB 823
In 2020, California passed SB 823 / AB 1868, which will eventually do away with California's Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) in favor of providing funding to counties for supervision and service delivery to youth in trouble with the law. Presently, 58 counties must now select a local facility to house young offenders who would previously be taken to a state youth prison.
Historically, there were approximately 10,000 children were incarcerated in state juvenile facilities in California in 1996. By the end of 2019, the number had dropped to around 750. Black and Latino youth make up the disproportionate amount of the states’ institutions, accounting for 88 percent of all youth offenders in 2020. As of October 2021, there are around 700 adolescents jailed in California.
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Julian Lucas, is fine art photographer, photojournalist, and creative strategist. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking homeless veterans to housing.
