By Paula King
East County Times
Posted: 05/09/2009 03:04:55 PM PDT
Updated: 05/09/2009 05:36:08 PM PDT
Education, social exposure, personal growth and hope are just some of the intangible benefits that the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility provides its residents, according to advocates of the Byron ranch for boys.
When a Contra Costa County grand jury recently recommended closure of the nearly 50-year-old facility, supporters came out in force to explain how it has helped the lives of countless troubled youth throughout the county.
Last week, county supervisors rejected the grand jury's claim that the facility is not rehabilitating incarcerated teens.
"With all due respect to the grand jury, I feel they have missed the mark," said Supervisor Mary Piepho, who lives in neighboring Discovery Bay. "I'm not sure who testified before them, but I do recognize that the human element has been missed — the opportunity to touch people's lives and move forward to give courage and leadership to someone who may have made a mistake."
In a report titled "County Youth Rehabilitation Center is on Life Support: It's Time to Pull the Plug," the grand jury accuses the facility of violating numerous health codes and further states that closing the center and transferring its residents to Juvenile Hall in Martinez would save the county up to $5 million annually.
At last week's Board of Supervisors meeting, the county countered that the proposal would actually increase net costs by about $3.6 million each year.
Most of the board did commit to improving the aging facility as funds became available. The facility's closure is not in the financial or criminal justice interests of the county, Supervisor John Gioia said.
"The research is overwhelming that when young people receive the types of programs that are offered at the Orin Allen facility, their chances for a successful life are much higher than at Juvenile Hall," he said.
Grand jury forewoman Leslie Lea stood by the report after the meeting, and said the result could mean an improved facility and more programs there. The grand jury acts as a government watchdog group, and its opinions are not always popular, she added.
"We are not uncompassionate. We love kids, and want the best for kids," Lea said. "If they can get the ranch back to what it was in its glory days, then we are all for that."
The board received an outpouring of public comments praising the ranch's rehabilitation efforts, including a gardening program, reading project, catering department and its Delta Vista High School, where 30 to 50 GEDs and more than 20 diplomas are earned annually.
Volunteers, county residents and those involved in the juvenile justice system said the program is a model beyond the county and state.
Rossmoor seniors also spoke highly of the 25-year tutoring and mentoring program, where they spend one-on-one time with Orin Allen teens each Thursday. Rossmoor volunteer Paul Phillips called the grand jury's observations frivolous.
"We listen to them," Phillips said of Rossmoor residents' relationships with youths from the facility. "They often have not been listened to. We show them respect. We give them new ideas to pursue, to think about."
Members of the Discovery Bay Garden Club highlighted the landscaping and garden projects they have grown there. They characterized the boys as hardworking with a lot of potential.
"Our theme for the year has been 'the magic in the garden.' The boys have given us a lot of that magic," club President Rebecca Ferguson said.
"If it is broken, fix it, but don't destroy it."
Some supervisors were critical of the grand jury's findings. Supervisor Susan Bonilla said the grand jury should shift its focus to more meaningful investigations.
"This report really seems that it was written with an outcome that had been decided prior to any meaningful research," she said. "I believe it was written to cause a bottom-line savings of some kind."
Paula King covers public safety in East County. Reach her at 925-779-7189 or pking@bayareanewsgroup.com.
http://www.mercurynews.com/crime/ci_12333418?nclick_check=1
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