How motivated would you be to run a race if there was no finish line?
This is exactly what is being asked of our young people who end up in California’s juvenile probation system. Once under probation supervision, the current system allows young people to be locked in with no discernible end, often without a clear purpose.
Sometimes it’s because probation officers genuinely believe that is what they need. Other times it’s because they haven’t caused any trouble so we just let their case ride. But too often, it’s because no one is asking the question: Does this person still need to be on probation?
This current system of endless probation is not just burdensome. It’s harmful.
Often, a probation meeting means a parent or guardian is missing work without pay. Probation check-ins could mean being excluded from sports, social events or family gatherings — normal activities that help young people develop. Youth of color face stark racial disparities in our youth justice system and spend significantly longer time on probation than their white peers. And youth raised in poor communities are disproportionately victimized by the current system. The cost of unnecessarily long probation supervision results in millions of taxpayer dollars that could be diverted to more positive use: education, health care and child care.
As experienced probation leaders in Los Angeles and Alameda counties, we’ve seen directly that most youth don’t need years of probation. They need clear structure with appropriate interventions, consistent expectations, and opportunities to demonstrate growth.
This is the premise of AB 1376, Ending Endless Probation bill — to put clear parameters on court check-ins to minimize the amount of time youth spend on probation. Sponsored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta and recently passed by both chambers in the California Legislature, AB 1376 presumes an end to probation after 12 months. A judge would then ensure the young person completing probation is ready. If not, their case would be reviewed every six months until deemed ready.
If signed into law, AB 1376 would benefit not just young people on probation and their families, but entire communities and our state as a whole. Beyond the estimated $80 million dollars in cost savings, the reduced caseload that would result from implementing AB 1376 would allow probation officers to focus on youth who truly need supervision. Therefore, AB 1376 would improve youth outcomes, increase public safety, and make probation more efficient.
This is our chance to take a significant step toward transforming youth justice. As Gov. Gavin Newsom said in 2019, “Juvenile justice should be about helping kids imagine and pursue new lives — not jumpstarting the revolving door of the criminal justice system.”
And AB 1376 is just the beginning. If all young people in the juvenile system could benefit from these reviews, the impact could be much greater.
Probation officers who want to make a positive impact in young people’s lives need a system anchored in rehabilitation and healing. The minimal opposition to this bill appears to simply want to maintain the status quo. Alternatively, AB 1376 makes our communities healthier and safer. The current default of endless probation has wasted billions of dollars and harmed millions of lives.
Signing AB 1376 into law would help undo the lasting damage of that era. Evidence shows providing regular reviews will help youth complete probation appropriately, improve public safety and prevent recidivism. This periodic check-in ensures the services and support in place are appropriate for the youth. It embraces principles of positive youth development.
The bill acknowledges what research has proven, that probation can be an unnecessary burden. It ensures that kids don’t stay on probation just because it’s the path of least resistance. And importantly, judges maintain power to extend probation whenever necessary for community safety or the child’s needs.
We urge Gov. Newsom to sign AB 1376 into law and take a major step toward positively transforming lives and improving public safety.
