Understanding in the Justice System: Gender Responsive Alternatives to Detention

For juveniles on probation, a culture of understanding is key to recovery. The Girl’s Juvenile Justice Initiative (GJJI) is a Stanislaus County initiative that is a collaborative effort between Stanislaus County Probation Department, Prison Law Office, the National Center for Crime and Delinquency and the Youth Justice Institute to evaluate the unmet needs of juvenile girls in the justice system. Through the GJJI, the Gender Responsive Alternatives to Detention (GRAD) program was developed. We sat down with Renee Flora, the Center for Human Services (CHS) Girl’s Advocate for the GRAD program to learn more about the program.

The Gender Responsive Alternatives to Detention (GRAD) program is for juvenile girls, 13 to 18, who are on formal probation. The goal is to offer an alternative to Juvenile Hall for girls who are in the justice system and have experienced some sort of trauma in their life.

“These girls are still learning and sometimes act on impulse” Renee said, “alternatives to detention offer understanding to where that impulse comes from.”

Going to juvenile hall cuts ties that girls in the justice system have to the community, and this could re-traumatize them. The goal of GRAD is to offer these girls a connection to resources in their community to heal from their trauma and learn from their mistakes instead of isolating them and potentially causing more trauma.

Before entering the program, girls on formal probation receive a Juvenile Assessment and Intervention System (JAIS) assessment to evaluate their needs and if the GRAD program would be a good fit.

Once girls enter the program, there are certain requirements. Each girl must attend a tour of CHS-Hutton House, The SPOT and Josie’s Place. They also each must attend The REAL Project, Without Permission and Eating Disorder/Body Image groups.

Once they complete these requirements they can choose from many other classes, groups and programs to attend that they think would be beneficial to them including but not limited to: job search and employment skills classes, drug or alcohol treatment groups, pregnancy and parenting classes, CHS-Pathways Orientation and counseling sessions.

In addition to taking the girls to their tours and meetings, Renee meets with each of them individually on a monthly basis. In these meetings they set a long term probation goal and monthly short term goals to help them achieve their long term goal.

“Setting goals is not just about getting off probation,” Renee said, “it’s for their long term benefit.”

Though the GRAD program is currently only available for girls who are on formal probation and have experienced trauma, it will soon be opened up to all girls on formal probation.

If you would like to learn more about services CHS provides for young people in our community visit: http://www.centerforhumanservices.org/youth-services.html