NACo Delegation Visits OC Probation Facility as Part of Corrections System of Care Tour

Orange, Calif. (June 20, 2024) - The Orange County Probation Department (OC Probation) welcomed a delegation from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for the Corrections System of Care Tour. As a member of the Orange County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (OCCJCC), OC Probation showcased its dedication to youth rehabilitation through informative presentations and a tour of the Multipurpose Rehabilitation Center (MRC)

The delegation was comprised of professionals from Cache, Boone, Salt Lake, Douglas, Durham, Dane, McLean counties, and the City of Issaquah, along with representatives from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Heartland Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center.

The tour highlighted three key facilities at the MRC: the gym, the auto body repair shop, and the college classroom. The gym has hosted numerous pro-social events such as the Juvenile Hall Career Fair and Otto Fischer High School Graduation for system impacted youth. The auto body repair shop provides vocational training for those interested in pursuing a career in automotive repair after their release. Lastly, the NACo award-winning College Occupation Program (COP) demonstrated its fully equipped learning environment where youth can pursue college degrees while in custody.

Several community partners, including Project Kinship, participated in the event. Steven Kim, Executive Director of Project Kinship, emphasized the significance of partnerships with agencies in positively impacting the lives of Orange County youth. A representative from Project Kinship then guided the delegation through a meditative breathing exercise, demonstrating the emotional regulation skills imparted to their youth.

Furthermore, the delegation had the opportunity to hear directly from the Youth Council, which consists of juveniles currently residing at Juvenile Hall. Council members shared their experiences of how being part of the Council has been a transformative opportunity and the positive impact it has had on their lives.

Lastly, Open Gate International emphasized the significance of culinary skills in the developmental journey of youth from adolescence to adulthood. Three young individuals showcased their acquired practical life skills by preparing over five types of cookies for the NACo delegation, highlighting the curriculum offered by Open Gate International.

As OC Probation continues to provide resources and infrastructure for the rehabilitation of system impacted youth, they express their renewed commitment to addressing the needs of our youth in the justice system. Witnessing firsthand the challenges and opportunities within juvenile facilities, they underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to support rehabilitation and positive outcomes for our youngest populations.

OC Probation was honored to share its programs with the NACo delegation as part of its continued dedication to advocating for policies and resources that promote fairness, accountability, and effective interventions in juvenile justice across our nation.

About the Orange County Probation Department

As a public safety agency, the Orange County Probation Department serves the community using effective, research supported rehabilitation practices and collaborative partnerships to successfully resocialize justice involved individuals. The Probation Department is proud to serve the Orange County community. It is dedicated to continuous improvement, searching out and applying "effective and research supported practices" to assist justice involved youth, their families, and adults to successfully navigate and successfully complete probation. Further, the Probation Department assists the criminal court system through investigations, probation reports and community supervision of thousands of adult and juvenile clients on court-ordered probation or in diversion programs. The Department operates the Orange County Juvenile Hall, and two camps for youth. In addition, the Department operates two Youth Reporting Centers serving North and Central Orange County.

##