BACKGROUND:

The Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) requires probation departments to notify the probation officer in any receiving county when placing a WIC 602 ward of the court in a community care facility (group home or STRTP) in a county outside of the ward’s county of residence. It additionally requires probation departments to provide notice to the same probation officer when any of these placements are terminated. The WIC also allows the probation department in the receiving county to disclose information about the ward’s history and placement to appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in the receiving county if the ward has been adjudicated for a felony offense.

PROCEDURE:

1. Notification to receiving counties

   For any WIC 602 ward of the court from San Luis Obispo County being placed in or removed from a community care facility in another county, the Legal Clerk (LC) assigned to the Placement Unit will do the following:

   •  

     Time of placement

     1. ​​Complete a WIC 740(b)(1)(3) Notification Letter in Monitor. The letter shall at a minimum include the name of the youth, placement date, placement address, juvenile record of the youth, supervision/visitation plan and any noted safety concerns such as suspected gang affiliation or dangerous behavior.

     2. Submit the letter to the Placement Unit Supervising Deputy Probation Officer (SDPO) for approval and signature.

     3. Fax or electronically send the signed letter to the appropriate county probation department at least 24 hours prior to the youth’s placement at the out of county community care facility.

   • ​Time of removal​​​​​

   1. Complete a WIC 740(b)(1) Removal Notification Letter in Monitor.
   2. Submit the letter to the Placement Unit SDPO for approval and signature.
   3. Fax or electronically send the signed letter to the appropriate county probation department no later than five (5) business days after the youth’s removal from the out of county community care facility.
2. Notification from sending counties:Upon receiving notice of any WIC 602 ward of the court from another county being placed in or removed from a community care facility in San Luis Obispo County, the LC will do the following:
   • Time of placement
     • Scan a copy of the notice of placement and save to the appropriate WIC 740 folder in the F-Drive/Juvenile Division/Placement folder.
     • Forward a copy of the letter to the Juvenile Field Supervision Unit/Placement Unit SDPO.
     • Complete a WIC 740(b)(5) LEA Notification of Placement Letter (located in F-Drive/Juvenile Division/Placement Folder) IF the youth had been adjudicated for a felony offense. 
     • Submit the letter to the Placement Unit SDPO for approval and signature. SDPO will notify Juvenile Division Chief Deputy Probation Officer (CDPO) if the youth has an adjudication for an offense described in WIC 707(b).  
     • Scan a copy of the signed LEA Notification of Placement Letter and save to the appropriate WIC 740 folder in the F-Drive/Juvenile Division/Placement folder.
     • Fax or electronically send the letter, within five (5) business days, to the LEA of jurisdiction over the area in which the community care facility is located. 
   • Time of removal
     • Scan a copy of the notice of removal and save to the appropriate WIC 740 folder in the F-Drive/Juvenile Division/Placement Folder.
     • Forward a copy of the letter to the Juvenile Field Supervision Unit/Placement Unit SDPO. 
     • Complete a WIC 740(b)(5) LEA Notification of Placement Removal Letter (located in the F-Drive/Juvenile Division/Placement Folder) if a LEA had been previously noticed of the youth’s placement.
     • Submit the letter to the Placement Unit SDPO for approval and signature.
     • Scan a copy of the signed LEA Notification of Placement Removal Letter and save to the appropriate WIC 740 folder in the F-Drive/Juvenile Division/Placement folder.
     • Fax or electronically send the letter, within five (5) business days, to the LEA who was previously noticed of the youth’s placement at the community care facility.
   •  Special provisions
     •  If, upon receiving notice of any WIC 602 ward of the court from another county being placed in a community care facility in San Luis Obispo County, the Field Supervision Unit SDPO or the Placement Unit SDPO believes the ward is a serious risk to public safety in the community, they shall consult with the Juvenile Division CDPO. If the CDPO agrees, the CDPO will complete and send to the sending county, a WIC 740 Request for Ward Removal Letter (located in the F-Drive/Juvenile Division/Placement Folder) with information identifying the specific safety concerns and requesting removal from the community care facility.
     • If the sending county does not include the prior juvenile record of the ward being placed in San Luis Obispo County in the placement notice, the LC will contact the sending county and request this information be sent immediately.

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