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Probation Department

Juvenile Division

Juvenile Hall

Juvenile Hall

Facts About Sonoma County Juvenile Hall

  • Located in Santa Rosa.
  • Current facility opened in December of 2005
  • Contains a variety of housing types to enhance programming and provide management flexibility

Each unit includes programming, educational and activity space. The housing units are designed to support decentralized programming in order to target specific needs of the youth and to support the principles of direct supervision. This type of design has been shown to reduce violence among juveniles and increase potential for rehabilitation. In addition to this design, the Juvenile Hall uses a progressive behavior management system that generates clear and pro-social expectations along with positive behavior change.

Program Components

For youth who remain in Juvenile Hall, a number of services are provided during the youth’s temporary stay:

  • Secure physical care
  • Assessment and treatment services
  • A Behavior Management System designed to foster personal responsibility and positive growth
  • A comprehensive school program implemented in cooperation with the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE)
  • Medical and Behavioral  Health services provided by the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services

Program Description

The primary function of the Sonoma County Juvenile Hall is to provide temporary, safe, and secure detention for youth who are beyond the normal controls of the community. All Youth detained in Juvenile Hall have the opportunity to benefit from individualized and targeted programs run on a daily basis. Youth are detained in Juvenile Hall pending their Juvenile Court Hearings, while they are serving short-term commitments, or while awaiting out-of-home placement in a foster/group home, camp or other institution. Some youth apprehended by law enforcement agencies are detained in Juvenile Hall while others are released to their parent(s)/guardian(s) based on a risk assessment.

Juvenile Hall uses a variety of programming to target specific needs of the individual such as: 

  • Adolescent Treatment Program: supports youth with drug and alcohol issues
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Beat Within: creative writing
  • Book Club
  • Boys and Girls Club: delivers weekly strength and evidenced based programming and structured recreation
  • Boys Council
  • Extensive case planning to promote behavior change including Interactive Journaling, Carey Guides, and the Positive Youth Justice (PYJ) model for longer-term youth
  • Fitness Program
  • Friendly Visitors
  • Garden Project
  • Girls Circle
  • Girl Scouts
  • Guitar Program (Electric & Acoustic)
  • Success Centers/ Imagine Bus Project: Art
  • Mindfulness
  • Movie Nights
  • Narcotics Anonymous
  • Paws As Loving Support (PALS)
  • Restorative Resources
  • Special Events: Scheduled throughout year
  • Spiritual Advisors
  • Tutoring Verity: Individual counseling as needed 
    • Teen Assault Prevention Program presentations 
    • My Strength; Healthy Relationships; Tolerance/Diversity Groups
    • Sexual Assault Advocate on-site