The Office of Youth and Community Restoration’s 5 Year DJJ Realignment Report is now available. I want to thank all our partners for helping us to gather the information, data, research, outcomes, and stories we needed to produce this initial overview of how the DJJ Realignment has evolved over the last 5 years. In 2020, California made an unprecedented commitment to the transformation of the youth justice system through the passage of Senate Bill 823. This legislation actualized what advocates, young people, researchers, and communities have known for a long time, that healing, accountability and positive youth development happen when youth are close to families and support networks that are supported by their local community-based systems which are carefully designed to meet their needs. As we mark two years since the full closure of the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), I am proud to see the work that has been undertaken across California to implement the intent of SB 823 by counties, communities, and the state. This transition has not been simple, as shifting care from the state government to the county government, along with all its stakeholders, is complex. It has not just been a physical shift, it has also simultaneously required a shift from a punishment-based lens to a health-based lens, which approaches youth who become justice-involved as young people that have experienced a social-emotional disruption in their adolescent development. Through the health-based lens, we acknowledge that youth need both accountability and care, connection, and restorative justice to move to a place of wholeness and repair to be welcomed back to their families and communities as contributing members of society.
Office of Youth and Community Restoration California Health & Human Services Agency
ICYMI: OYCR’s 2024 Annual Report is now available!
If you haven’t already, we invite you to read OYCR’s 2024 Annual Report, which highlights a pivotal year of progress—including the establishment of our Youth Advisory Board, the inaugural California Youth Justice Summit, and strengthened community partnerships. Grounded in healing, accountability, and youth voice—principles that guide all our work—the report offers an in-depth look at how OYCR is supporting the state in advancing a youth justice system that better serves young people and their communities.
Voices of Youth Justice
Mistakes Are a Normal Part of Growing Up
Young people in the justice system are still growing — emotionally, mentally, and physically — and many face deep trauma that shapes their behavior. The report Please Don’t Give Up On Us: Stories From Children and Youth Incarcerated in California, commissioned by OYCR, shares youth voices and research showing that mistakes are a part of growing up, especially when trauma goes unaddressed.
Read the blog and understand how healing-centered, trauma-informed approaches rooted in support and accountability — not punishment — can transform lives, break cycles, and help young people thrive as they return home.
A Q&A with Madera County Youth Manuel Hernandez
“Over time I had to mature and have a different mindset… I learned a lot of skills, like getting along with others, being able to communicate well, and being able to control myself.”
Manuel Hernandez’s story of growth and resilience in Madera County’s juvenile facility demonstrates the power of education, skill-building, and supportive relationships — like those with Assistant Chief Jose Pantoja and the probation team — to change the trajectory of young people’s lives. From earning his diploma to preparing for college and a new job, Manuel’s journey showcases the potential of a system rooted in healing and opportunity.
In the months of May, June and July OYCR held convenings with all the partners in the various participating jurisdiction of the Youth Employment Initiative. Bringing all the partners including County Probation Departments, County Offices of Education, Amity Foundation, Department of Rehabilitation, and CBO’s together to discuss services that youth can receive, and workflows was helpful to the forward progression of this demonstration project. As of July 2025, there are 96 youth currently with open DOR cases and participating in the Youth Employment Initiative, with nine additional youth pending an intake interview with a DOR counselor.
Webinars, Meetings & Events
Youth Justice Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm PDT
The next meeting of the CWC Youth Justice Committee (YJC) will take place on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. This meeting will be held in-person at OYCR’s headquarters (925 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814, Room 1275) as well as virtually. ZoomGov information, agenda and additional materials will be posted on the CWC YJC webpage. We look forward to your participation.
State Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Meeting
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 11:00 - 3:00 pm PDT
The next meeting of the State Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will take place on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. This meeting will be held in-person at the Clifford L. Allenby Building (1215 O Street Sacramento, CA 95814, 1st Floor-California Room) as well as virtually. ZoomGov information, agenda and additional materials will be available on the SACJJDP webpage. We look forward to your participation.
Past Webinars
OYCR Webinar Youth Justice Action Webinar Series: Highlights from the 2024 Ombudsperson Report to the Legislature
Last month’s Youth Justice Action Webinar speakers provided an overview of the 2024 Ombudsperson Report to the Legislature, highlighting key data findings, responsive improvements, and recommendations to enhance oversight, advocacy, and outcomes for youth who are justice-involved. View the link to the recording on our website.
