ARTICLE 2. Department of the Youth Authority [1710. - 1715.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 2.

in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1710. Section 1710.

(a) Any reference to the Department of the Youth Authority in this code or any other code refers to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice. (b) The Legislature finds and declares the following: (1) The purpose of the Division of Juvenile Justice within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is to protect society from the consequences of criminal activity by providing for the secure placement of youth, and to effectively and efficiently operate and manage facilities housing youthful offenders under the jurisdiction of the department, consistent with the purposes set forth in Section 1700. (2) The purpose of the Division of Juvenile Programs within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is to provide comprehensive education, training, treatment, and rehabilitative services to youthful offenders under the jurisdiction of the department, that are designed to promote community restoration, family ties, and victim restoration, and to produce youth who become law-abiding and productive members of society, consistent with the purposes set forth in Section 202. (3) The purpose of the Division of Juvenile Parole Operations within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is to monitor and supervise the reentry into society of youthful offenders under the jurisdiction of the department, and to promote the successful reintegration of youthful offenders into society, in order to reduce the rate of recidivism, thereby increasing public safety.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1711. Section 1711.

Any reference to the Director of the Youth Authority shall be to the Director of the Division of Juvenile Justice in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, unless otherwise expressly provided.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1712. Section 1712.

(a) All powers, duties, and functions pertaining to the care and treatment of wards provided by any provision of law and not specifically and expressly assigned to the Juvenile Justice branch of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or to the Board of Parole Hearings, shall be exercised and performed by the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The secretary shall be the appointing authority for all civil service positions of employment in the department. The secretary may delegate the powers and duties vested in the secretary by law, in accordance with Section 7. (b) Commencing July 1, 2005, the secretary is authorized to make and enforce all rules appropriate to the proper accomplishment of the functions of the Division of Juvenile Facilities, Division of Juvenile Programs, and Division of Juvenile Parole Operations. The rules shall be promulgated and filed pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and shall, to the extent practical, be stated in language that is easily understood by the general public. (c) The secretary shall maintain, publish, and make available to the general public, a compendium of rules and regulations promulgated by the department pursuant to this section. (d) The following exceptions to the procedures specified in this section shall apply to the department: (1) The department may specify an effective date that is any time more than 30 days after the rule or regulation is filed with the Secretary of State; provided that no less than 20 days prior to that effective date, copies of the rule or regulation shall be posted in conspicuous places throughout each institution and shall be mailed to all persons or organizations who request them. (2) The department may rely upon a summary of the information compiled by a hearing officer; provided that the summary and the testimony taken regarding the proposed action shall be retained as part of the public record for at least one year after the adoption, amendment, or repeal.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1712.1. Section 1712.1.

(a) A ward confined in a facility of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities, shall be encouraged to communicate with family members, clergy, and others, and to participate in programs that will facilitate his or her education, rehabilitation, and accountability to victims, and that may help the ward become a law-abiding and productive member of society. If the division or a facility requires a ward to provide a list of allowed visitors, calls, or correspondents, that list shall be transferable from facility to facility, so that the transfer of the ward does not unduly interrupt family and community communication. (b) A ward shall be allowed a minimum of four telephone calls to his or her family per month. A restriction or reduction of the minimum amount of telephone calls allowed to a ward shall not be imposed as a disciplinary measure. If calls conflict with institutional operations, supervision, or security, telephone usage may be temporarily restricted to the extent reasonably necessary for the continued operation and security of the facility. When speaking by telephone with a family member, clergy, or counsel, a ward may use his or her native language or the native language of the person to whom he or she is speaking. (c) (1) If a ward’s visitation rights are suspended, division or facility staff shall be prepared to inform one or more persons on the list of those persons allowed to visit the ward, if any of those persons should call to ask. (2) The division or facility shall maintain a toll-free telephone number that families and others may call to confirm visiting times, and to provide timely updates on interruptions and rescheduling of visiting days, times, and conditions. (3) (A) The division shall encourage correspondence with family or clergy by providing blank paper, envelopes, pencils, and postage. Materials shall be provided in a manner that protects institutional and public safety. (B) When corresponding with a family member, clergy, or counsel in writing, the ward may use his or her native language or the native language of the person to whom he or she is writing. (C) Blank paper, envelopes, and pencils shall not be deemed contraband nor seized except in cases where the staff determines that these items would likely be used to cause bodily harm, injury, or death to the ward or other persons, or, based on specific history of property damage by the individual ward, would likely be used to cause destruction of state property. If the staff asserts that it is necessary to seize materials normally used for correspondence, the reasons for the seizure shall be entered in writing in the ward’s file or records.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1712.5. Section 1712.5.

(a) The possession or use of tobacco products by wards and inmates in all institutions and camps under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Youth Authority is prohibited. The Director of the Youth Authority shall adopt regulations to implement this prohibition, which shall include an exemption for departmentally approved religious ceremonies. (b) The use of tobacco products by any person not included in subdivision (a) on the grounds of any institution or facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Youth Authority is prohibited, with the exception of residential staff housing where inmates or wards are not present.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1713. Section 1713.

(a) The Director of the Division of Juvenile Justice in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall have wide and successful administrative experience in youth or adult correctional programs embodying rehabilitative or delinquency prevention concepts. (b) The Governor may request the State Personnel Board to use extensive recruitment and merit selection techniques and procedures to provide a list of persons qualified for appointment as that subordinate officer. The Governor may appoint any person from such list of qualified persons or may reject all names and appoint another person who meets the requirements of this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1714. Section 1714.

The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may transfer persons confined in one institution or facility of the Division of Juvenile Justice to another. Proximity to family shall be one consideration in placement.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1715. Section 1715.

From funds available for the support of the Youth Authority, the director may reimburse persons employed by the authority and certified as radiologic technologists pursuant to the Radiologic Technology Act (subdivision (f) of Section 27 of the Health and Safety Code) for the fees incurred both in connection with the obtaining of the certification since July 1, 1971, and with regard to the renewal thereof.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026