The San Diego Superior Court is seeking applicants to serve on the San Diego County Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC). The Commission is a state-mandated, court-appointed citizens’ commission. Its primary purpose is to annually inspect all publicly administered juvenile institutions and any jail lockup within the County that is used for the confinement of any minor for more than 24 hours. The JJC may also inquire into the administration of juvenile court law in San Diego County to promote an effective juvenile justice system operated in an environment of credibility, dignity, fairness, and respect for the youth of San Diego County.

Interested applicants should become familiar with the mandated and elective activities of the Juvenile Justice Commission of San Diego County prior to submitting an application to the JJC’s administrative officer.

Legal Authorization

The Juvenile Justice Commission is created in California Welfare and Institutions Code, sections 225 through 231.

Qualifications

Commission members should:

• Have a personal, professional, and/or academic interest in issues related to youth affected by the Juvenile Court.
• Be comfortable working as part of a diverse, multidisciplinary team.
• Have the skills necessary to gather and analyze information objectively; read and understand policies and procedures; read, write, and evaluate written reports; and interview youth and juvenile justice professionals.

Primary Duties of the Juvenile Justice Commission (W&I Code section 229)

• To annually inspect all publicly administered juvenile institutions, including Juvenile Probation facilities, and to inspect annually any jail lockup within the County that is used for the confinement of any minor for more than 24 hours, and to report the results to the Juvenile Court and county.
• To inquire into the operation of any group home in the County that serves wards or dependent children of the Juvenile Court in order to review the safety and well-being of the wards and dependent children.
• To inquire into the administration of juvenile court law in San Diego County, including, but not limited to, the operations of the Juvenile Court, Probation Department, Social Services Agency, and any other agency involved in juvenile justice or dependency.
• To make recommendations to the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court and to send copies of the recommendations to county departments.

Time Commitment

Commission members are asked to arrange for their own travel to meetings, inspections, and other activities. Many of the activities in which the commission participates occur during traditional business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). This includes monthly meetings, quarterly meetings, and inspections. Prospective commission members are encouraged to discuss membership on the JJC with their employer before applying to ensure that they will have the flexibility to balance professional obligations and their commitment to the JJC.

Compensation

Members of a juvenile justice commission shall be paid twenty-five dollars ($25) per meeting, not exceeding two meetings per month (W&I Code section 231).

Background Investigation

Prospective Juvenile Justice Commission members will be subject to a criminal history background investigation and Livescan fingerprinting. Convictions, depending upon the type, number, and how recent, may be disqualifying.

Selection Process

The selection process includes an application, an interview with current JJC members, and a final interview with the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court. Appointments are generally for a term of four (4) years. However, appointments may be made to fill mid-term vacancies and will initially be for a shorter length of time.

Applications are available on the San Diego Superior Court’s website at sdcourt.ca.gov/JJC. The deadline to submit an application is 12:00 p.m. on November 1, 2023.