SANDAG supports local law enforcement and human services agencies by evaluating juvenile crime prevention programs.
Current Juvenile Projects
Chula Vista Violence Reduction Project - CalVIP
In 2022, the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) and SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) received funding from the California Board of State and Community Corrections through the California Violence Intervention Program (CalVIP) Grant Program. As part of this project, the CVPD and SBCS will implement strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and retaliation that include community outreach programs and focused deterrence strategies. SANDAG will serve as the outside evaluator and conduct a process and outcome evaluation to measure how the project was implemented and what effect it had on the target population.
The Intensive Mentoring, Parent Advocacy, and Comprehensive Trauma-Informed (IMPACT) services project is a community-based system in North San Diego County that offers an alternative to detention/system involvement for youth. As part of the program, youth and their families receive long-term (up to 12 months) individual and family services to address each family’s unique needs. SANDAG has partnered with North County Lifeline to serve as the evaluation partner for this effort.
Increasing Resiliency in High-Risk Youth - CalVIP
In 2021, SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) received funding from the Bureau of State and Community Corrections to provide services to high-risk youth in the City of San Diego who participate in the CHOICE, Achievement Center, or Alternatives to Detention programs. These services include “3rd Wave” mindfulness-based mental health services and Credible Messenger Mentoring. SANDAG, as the evaluation partner, will be conducting the process and impact evaluation of the program.
Juvenile Diversion Initiative (JDI)
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office Juvenile Diversion Initiative (DA-JDI) is a countywide pre-filing diversion program for youth charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense. The District Attorney’s Office has contracted with the national Conflict Resolution Center to implement and administer the program which involves a restorative justice approach. SANDAG will conduct a process and outcome evaluation using a mixed-method, quasi-experimental design.
Reducing Racial and Ethnic Discrepancies (RRED)
RRED is a post-hoc study of juvenile justice system contacts (e.g., referrals to probation, bookings, true findings) to evaluate if different races and ethnicities are disproportionately involved in the system. The purpose of this study is to inform future juvenile justice system management decisions in an effort to continue to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities. A legacy study—Disproportionate Minority Contact (2008)—was completed by SANDAG.
Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act
In 2001, the San Diego County Probation Department received state funding through the Schiff-Cardenas Crime Prevention Act of 2000 (now referred to as the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act, or JJCPA). Based on information compiled by a Technical Working Group, the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council recommended to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors that JJCPA funds be used to (1) continue existing and proven programs in which grant funds were expiring and (2) augment existing and proven programs to meet the needs/gaps in the identified communities.
SANDAG worked with the San Diego County Probation Department to identify programs that would qualify for JJCPA funds. The programs currently receiving JJCPA funds include two prevention programs (Community Assessment Teams [CAT] and Achievement Centers [AC]), two treatment programs (Substance Abuse Services [SAS] and Juvenile Forensic Assistance for Stabilization and Treatment [JFAST]), a diversion program (Alternatives to Detention [ATD]), and a supervision program (CHOICE).
For the evaluation component, SANDAG collects information from local criminal justice records related to new offenses and compliance with probation conditions for all JJCPA participants. Supplemental information, such as risk assessments and treatment intervention information, is collected for JJCPA participants only.
JJCPA Summary FY 2022-2023Promise Neighborhoods
In January 2012, South Bay Community Services (SBCS) was awarded a one-year U.S. Department of Education, Promise Neighborhoods planning grant. This program aims to address significant challenges faced by students and families living in high-poverty communities by providing resources to plan and implement a continuum of services from early learning to college and career.
For questions regarding any of these projects, please contact Octavio Rodriguez Ferreira, SANDAG Principal research Analyst, at 619.595.5342 or email@example.com.