The Riverside County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC) has officially adopted a three-year strategic plan aimed at establishing and maintaining a continuum of quality community care for Riverside County youth. This move comes on the heels of the county’s first-ever Ad Hoc Committee, which was formed in January 2024 and comprised of three county agencies, a member of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, three community-based organizations (CBO), and chaired by CBO Alliance President Ramon Ramos.
The Ad Hoc Committee was tasked with addressing the needs of the county’s youth, balancing both community and county perspectives. This initiative, driven by Chief Probation Officer Christopher H. Wright’s visionary leadership and dedication, enabled the committee to recommend a strategic direction that has now been adopted by the JJCC.
Chief Wright commented, “I have not seen so much progress in such a short amount of time. I am very proud of what they created and their effort.” JJCC member Dr. Johnie Drawn added, “I have attended these meetings for several years and have never seen such progress and synergy. Allowing the voice of the community has never happened before. What you are doing here is transparent and serves as a beacon of light for others.”
The newly adopted plan focuses on providing a continuum of care from prevention to re-entry, diverting youth from further involvement with the justice system. Key goals include ensuring equitable access to necessary services, eliminating service gaps, and developing a robust evaluation system.
For more information about the JJCC, contact Probation Division Director LaToya Thomas at lsthomas@rivco.org. To get involved with the CBO Alliance, contact Ramon Ramos at ramonramos@theexceptionorg.com.
