Juveniles and Juvenile Camp Community Placement

When a juvenile offender admits (pleads) to a juvenile petition or is found to have committed the violation alleged after an adjudication hearing, there are a number of “sentencing” options available to the juvenile court judge. For many first-time juvenile offenders, the minor will be placed on juvenile probation and will be allowed to remain at home with his or her parents. In the most serious cases, the minor can be declared a ward of the court and sent to a Department of Juvenile Justice facility to serve a sentence. For other offenders, the Court may issue a Camp Community Placement (“CCP”) order and send the minor to a local probation camp.

The Los Angeles County Department of Probation operates 19 different residential probation camps designed for juvenile offenders. The ultimate goals of the camps are to reunite minors with their family, reintegrate minors into the larger community and help the minor develop social and behavioral skills. The camps provide educational, medical and mental health services and include work experience, vocational training, tutoring, athletics, and counseling. Probation camp can be either three, six or nine months long. The juvenile would live at the camp and is given the opportunity to visit with his or her family.

When a minor is ordered to complete juvenile probation camp by a juvenile court judge, they will first complete an assessment with their probation officer. The minor will be assessed on numerous criteria, including age, gender, camp length, medical and mental health needs and the minor’s interests. After the assessment, the probation officer will assign the minor to a camp best suited to address the individual needs of that minor.

As part of the orientation process, a case plan will be developed specifically tailored to the needs of the minor. The minor’s family is encouraged to assist the minor in reaching his or her goals.

Under the Behavior Modification Program, the minor is allowed to earn greater independence and more privileges during their time at camp by showing progress in their programming and increased self-control. The minor would earn points daily and can receive certain daily incentives, including special activities and programs. The number of points earned can qualify the minor for early release.

Before a minor can be released from probation camp, the probation department will conduct a home evaluation to determine whether or not the minor’s house is suitable for the minor to return to. If the minor’s home is deemed not suitable, probation may place the minor in a different location. If the minor is older than 17 ½, he or she can be eligible for Independent Living Services and may also be eligible to have probation terminated.

Camp visiting hours are Sundays between 1:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. In some cases, special visiting arrangements can be made.

Juvenile probation camps include Camp Afflerbaugh in La Verne, Camp David Gonzales in Calabasas, Camp Karl Holton in Sylmar, Camp Vernon Kilpatrick in Malibu, Camp William Mendenhall in Lake Hughes, Camp Fred Miller in Malibu, Camp Jon Munz in Lake Hughes, Camp Joseph Paige in La Verne, Camp Glenn Rockey in San Dimas, Camp Louis Routh in Tujunga, Camp Joseph Scott in Santa Clarita, Camp Kenyon Scudder in Santa Clarita, Challenger Memorial Youth Center in Lancaster, Camp Gregory Jarvis in Lancaster, Camp Ronald McNair in Lancaster, Camp Ellison Onizuka in Lancaster, Camp Judith Resnik in Lancaster, Camp Francis J. Scobee in Lancaster, Camp Michael Smith in Lancaster and the Dorothy Kirby Center in Commerce.

Approximately 2,200 minors are housed in juvenile probation camps. The average length of time spent in camp is 23.8 weeks and the average age of minors in these camps is 15.7. The Dorothy Kirby Center in Commerce provides treatment options for emotionally disturbed minors. Minors can complete high school studies while at juvenile probation camp.