A snapshot of 597 juveniles placed under probation supervision in Santa Barbara County in 2017 shows 53 were incarcerated in juvenile hall, a number 38 percent higher than the average in nearby counties.

The reason, according to Probation Department officials, is that the county uses fewer alternatives to incarceration for low-level offenders than comparable counties like San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz and Ventura.

Incarcerating misdemeanor offenders, and exposing them to serious, high-risk criminals increases recidivism and ups the chances of them becoming more criminally sophisticated, said Kim Shean, deputy chief probation officer.

To bring the county more in line with the average and address priorities in the Renew '22 budget initiative, the Probation Department is reducing caseloads and diverting more low-level cases away from the court system.

To read more of Gina Kim's article, please click here.