The new California state budget allocates $4 million toward preventing the unnecessary arrests of foster children, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. The move from lawmakers came about after the newspaper exposed a severe issue regarding the handling foster kids who act up.

Historically, when foster children staying in one of the many California shelters caused a ruckus, supervisors would call the authorities. A minor infraction could quickly land a child in a juvenile detention facility for assault and vandalism; the practice starts a vicious cycle of young people going in-and-out of the juvenile justice system, and then the adult criminal justice system later in life.

It is vital to remember that the majority of youngsters in foster care have had complicated lives. Such youngsters have been witness to all-the-wrong-things from a very young age; ostensibly, they are not equipped to handle challenging situations in a healthy manner. One could argue that acting up is expected among young people whose early life is comprised of one traumatic event after another. Fortunately, there are ways of disciplining children that don’t involve detention; utilizing such methods could teach adolescents valuable life lessons and coping skills.

De-Escalation and Adolescent Development Training

The $4 million will be used for:

• Foster youth support services,
• De-escalation training, and
• Adolescent development training for law enforcement and staff at residential facilities.

This week, legislation is expected to pass that would order California children’s shelters and group homes to only call law enforcement in an emergency, according to the article. Such facilities should rely on other forms of intervention before turning to the police as a means of disciplining a child. Maria Ramiu, a senior staff attorney with the Youth Law Center in San Francisco, says the new law encouraging shelters and group homes to rely on law enforcement less, would be a significant “change in philosophy.”

Assembly Bill (AB) 2043, introduced by state Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D), curbs over-reliance on law enforcement to solve foster care behavioral concerns, The Chronicle of Social Change reports. The bill also helps foster kids reach out for help when they find themselves in unsafe situations in foster homes by creating a statewide hotline for foster youth and their caregivers to contact a mobile crisis-team at any time.

“We want [foster youth and caregivers] to feel supported, to have access to immediate support in their homes,” said Diana Boyer, senior policy analyst for the County Welfare Directors Association of California. “We’re bringing the services to them, as opposed to them going to services.”

A mobile crisis team with training in how to address the concerns of young people, many of which have mental health problems, could significantly reduce the need to rely on law enforcement. Mental health, and young people acting out because of such conditions, is not a problem that can be arrested away.

Juvenile Defense Attorney

The Law Offices of Katie Walsh specialize in juvenile law. If your son or daughter is facing criminal charges or school expulsion, Attorney Walsh can advocate for you and your family in several ways. Please contact our office for a free consultation.

Last week was National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 2 through the 8th, with the theme of—Strength. Resilience. Justice. The goal is to inspire communities to raise awareness about victims’ rights and address the unmet needs of such victims.

With that in mind, it is timely given that the California Assembly Public Safety Committee unanimously passed The Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights (Assembly Bill 1312), East County Magazine reports. The legislation, authored and introduced by San Diego Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, would require hospital and law enforcement to inform sexual assault victims about their rights before undergoing medical examination and/or interviews.

Millions of Californians have been sexually assaulted and/or raped, both adults and minors alike. It takes extreme courage to come forward and report such malicious acts. Such people need not only the support of the community, but also that of lawmakers, law enforcement and medical professionals.

“California needs to do a better job of helping sexual assault victims navigate all of the legal, medical and personal issues that survivors have to deal with, and it starts with a Sexual Assault Victims bill of rights that ensures each survivor is informed about their rights and the resources that are available to them before they are examined,” said Assemblywoman Gonzalez-Fletcher. “Victims have rights, and this new law will strengthen those rights to include emergency contraception for women and a ban on police departments prematurely destroying rape test kits.”

On top of being given an outline detailing a victim’s rights, Assembly Bill 1312 would grant survivors:

• The right to request a person of a certain gender be present during interviews.
• The right for a copy (gratis) of law enforcement reports on the case.
• The right to free contraception and a shower (when available) after the medical exam.
• The right to a separate waiting room from the defendant during criminal proceedings and at the district attorney’s office.

“For rape survivors like myself, these civil rights in California mean the difference between justice or lost justice,” stated Amanda Nguyen, California native, founder and president of Rise, a national civil rights nonprofit. “California survivors must have equal rights under the law. With the support from state legislators, we can help pass new laws that will end these injustices and protect the 2 million rape survivors in California.”

The legislation would require law enforcement to keep rape test kits for 20 years.

If you are the victim of any form of sexual assault or rape, please contact the Law Offices of Katie Walsh. We understand how difficult this process can be and we are here for you.