1.7 Juvenile Hall Function

Chapter 1 General Instruction
Section 1.7
Subject 1.7 Juvenile Hall Function
Effective Date 5/8/2023 12:00 AM
  1. The Juvenile Hall is the temporary juvenile detention and treatment facility in and for the County of San Luis Obispo. (Detention, Secure Youth Track, and The Coastal Valley Academy).  The Juvenile Hall is operated under the authority granted in the Welfare and Institutions Code, the Penal Code and the California Administrative Code.  The Chief Probation Officer shall appoint the Chief Deputy of the Custody Division of who will be in charge of the facility and its employees.
  1. Pursuant to Section 851 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the facility shall not be treated as a jail, prison or penal institution and shall be operated in all respects as nearly like a home as possible.
  1. The Juvenile Hall is a detention and treatment facility for youth who are described by Sections 601 and 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and who is either a risk to themselves or are viewed as being a risk to the community.
  1. The facility receives all youth brought by any peace officer with a few specific exceptions as provided by law.  The facility may be used to house youth being reviewed for detention, awaiting Court proceedings and/or for Court commitments and status offenders awaiting pick-up by parent(s), legal guardian(s), community-based agencies or the Department of Social Services.
  1. The Juvenile Hall may also be used to safely house youth while the   Probation Department gathers sufficient information regarding the youth’s background, to make an appropriate placement decision based on the safety of the community, and the needs of the youth.
  1. The facility is designed to be part of a treatment/rehabilitative program.  It is not punitive in nature and does not provide a punitive atmosphere beyond the security necessary to prohibit an escape and to protect staff and other youth.