Sacramento County Juvenile Probation is among Trauma Informed Practice leaders in the State

Just as state senators work toward ending the practice statewide of charging families exorbitant fees for their juvenile justice involved youth, Sacramento County Probation has already acted to end the practice. Ending these fees is an example of a trauma-informed approach to the care of struggling families- taking into consideration how the charging of fees exacerbates family stress. 

"The county started charging most of the fees in 2005 to discourage parents from taking advantage of the system to care for youths who were getting into trouble but not committing serious crimes.

But the tough-on-crime at all costs philosophy has changed with criminal justice reform. Pushed by advocacy groups, several other counties have also recently repealed the fees, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles and Santa Clara.

The Legislature is debating Senate Bill 190, introduced by Sens. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, and Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, which would end the fees in all counties."

Read more in a Sacramento Bee editorial here.