ARTICLE 2. Commissions and Committees [225. - 236.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 2.
in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 225. Section 225.

In each county there shall be a juvenile justice commission consisting of not less than 7 and no more than 15 citizens. Two or more of the members shall be persons who are between 14 and 21 years of age, provided there are available persons between 14 and 21 years of age who are able to carry out the duties of a commission member in a manner satisfactory to the appointing authority. Each person serving as a member of a probation committee immediately prior to September 15, 1961, shall be a member of the juvenile justice commission and shall continue to serve as such until such time as his or her term of appointment as a member of the probation committee would have expired under any prior provision of law. Upon a vacancy occurring in the membership of the commission and upon the expiration of the term of office of any member, a successor shall be appointed by the presiding judge of the superior court with the concurrence of the judge of the juvenile court or, in a county having more than one judge of the juvenile court, with the concurrence of the presiding judge of the juvenile court for a term of four years. When a vacancy occurs for any reason other than the expiration of a term of office, the appointee to fill such vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor. Appointments may be made by the presiding judge of the superior court, in the same manner designated in this section for the filling of vacancies, to increase the membership of a commission to the maximum of 15 in any county which has a commission with a membership of less than 15 members. In any county in which the membership of the commission, on the effective date of amendments to this section enacted at the 1971 Regular Session of the Legislature, exceeds the maximum number permitted by this section, no additional appointments shall be made until the number of commissioners is less than the maximum number permitted by this section. In any case, such county’s commission membership shall, on or after January 1, 1974, be no greater than the maximum permitted by this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 226. Section 226.

In lieu of county juvenile justice commissions, the boards of supervisors of two or more adjacent counties may agree to establish a regional juvenile justice commission consisting of not less than eight citizens, and having a sufficient number of members so that their appointment may be equally apportioned between the participating counties. Two or more of the members shall be persons who are between 14 and 21 years of age, provided there are available persons between 14 and 21 years of age who are able to carry out the duties of a commission member in a manner satisfactory to the appointing authority. The presiding judge of the superior court with the concurrence of the judge of the juvenile court or, in a county having more than one judge of the juvenile court, with the concurrence of the presiding judge of the juvenile court of each of the participating counties shall appoint an equal number of members to the regional justice commission and they shall hold office for a term of four years. Of those first appointed, however, if the number appointed be an even number, half shall serve for a term of two years and half shall serve for a term of four years and if the number of members first appointed be an odd number, the greater number nearest half shall serve for a term of two years and the remainder shall serve for a term of four years. The respective terms of the members first appointed shall be determined by lot as soon as possible after their appointment. Upon a vacancy occurring in the membership of the commission and upon the expiration of the term of office of any member, a successor shall be appointed by the presiding judge of the superior court with the concurrence of the judge of the juvenile court or, in a county having more than one judge of the juvenile court, with the concurrence of the presiding judge of the juvenile court of the county which originally appointed such vacating or retiring member. When a vacancy occurs for any reason other than the expiration of a term of office, the appointee shall hold office for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 227. Section 227.

The clerk of the court of the appointing judge shall immediately notify each person appointed a member of a county or regional juvenile justice commission and thereupon such person shall appear before the appointing judge and qualify by taking an oath faithfully to perform the duties of a member of the juvenile justice commission. The qualification of each member shall be entered in the juvenile court record.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 229. Section 229.

It shall be the duty of a juvenile justice commission to inquire into the administration of the juvenile court law in the county or region in which the commission serves. For this purpose the commission shall have access to all publicly administered institutions authorized or whose use is authorized by this chapter situated in the county or region, shall inspect such institutions no less frequently than once a year, and may hold hearings. A judge of the juvenile court shall have the power to issue subpoenas requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses and production of papers at hearings of the commission. A juvenile justice commission shall annually inspect any jail or lockup within the county which in the preceding calendar year was used for confinement for more than 24 hours of any minor. It shall report the results of such inspection together with its recommendations based thereon, in writing, to the juvenile court and to the Board of Corrections.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 229.5. Section 229.5.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a juvenile justice commission may inquire into the operation of any group home that serves wards or dependent children of the juvenile court and is located in the county or region the commission serves. The commission may review the safety and well-being of wards or dependent children placed in the group home and the program and services provided in relation to the home’s published program statement. (b) In conducting its review, the commission shall respect the confidentiality of minors’ records and other information protected under other provisions of law. It may review court or case records of a child provided it keeps the identities of minors named in those records confidential, and may review the financial records of a group home. However, the commission may not review the personnel records of employees or the records of donors to the group home. (c) The commission shall give the group home manager at least 24 hours’ advance notice of a visit to a group home. If the commission believes that there is a serious violation of applicable licensing laws or regulations or that residents of a group home are in danger of physical or mental abuse, abandonment or other substantial threat to their health and safety, the commission shall notify the Community Care Licensing Division of the State Department of Social Services for appropriate action, shall consult with the presiding judge of the juvenile court and chief probation officer as to whether or not a visit is appropriate, and shall notify other juvenile justice commissions of its actions, as appropriate. (d) Upon the completion of a visit, if the commission finds any condition in the group home that poses a danger to its residents or otherwise violates any applicable law, ordinance, or regulation, the commission shall verbally advise the group home manager of its findings, unless it determines that the advisement could be detrimental to the children placed there, and shall send written confirmation of its findings to the group home manager within 14 days. The commission may also report its findings to the presiding judge of the juvenile court, chief probation officer, State Department of Social Services, or other juvenile justice commissions as appropriate. A group home manager may meet with the juvenile justice commission, chief probation officer, county welfare director, juvenile court, or the State Department of Social Services to resolve any problem or to submit a plan of correction.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 230. Section 230.

A juvenile justice commission may recommend to any person charged with the administration of any of the provisions of this chapter such changes as it has concluded, after investigation, will be beneficial. A commission may publicize its recommendations.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 231. Section 231.

Members of a juvenile justice commission shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Such reimbursement shall be made by the county of appointment or, in lieu of such actual and necessary expenses the board of supervisors may provide that the members of the commission shall be paid not to exceed the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25) per meeting not exceeding two meetings per month. In the case of a regional justice commission, the duty of reimbursement shall be divided among the participating counties in the manner prescribed by agreement of the boards of supervisors.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 232. Section 232.

The board of supervisors may by ordinance provide for the establishment, support, and maintenance of one or more agencies or departments to cooperate with and assist in coordinating on a countywide basis the work of those community agencies engaged in activities designed to prevent juvenile and adult delinquency; and such agencies or departments may cooperate with any such public or community committees, agencies, or councils at their invitation.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 233. Section 233.

The board of supervisors may by ordinance provide for the establishment, support, and maintenance of a delinquency prevention commission, composed of not fewer than seven citizens, to coordinate on a countywide basis the work of those governmental and nongovernmental organizations engaged in activities designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. If the board so elects, it may designate the juvenile justice commission, or any other committee or council appointed pursuant to Section 232 or 235, to serve in such capacity. The commission may receive funds from governmental and nongovernmental sources to hire an executive secretary and necessary staff and to defray needed administrative expenses. The board of supervisors may direct any county department to provide necessary staff service to the commission. The commission may expend its funds on specific projects designed to accomplish its objectives. Members of the delinquency prevention commission shall be appointed by the board of supervisors to serve a term of four years, and they shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Upon a vacancy occurring in the membership in the commission and upon the expiration in the term of office of any member, a successor shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. When a vacancy occurs for any reason other than the expiration of a term of office, the appointee to fill such vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor. The board of supervisors may appoint initial members to any delinquency prevention commission created after the effective date of the amendment made to this section at the 1973–74 Regular Session of the Legislature to hold office for the following terms: one-half of the membership of an even-numbered commission for a term of two years and one-half plus one of the membership of an odd-numbered commission for a term of two years. The remaining initial members and the term of office of each successor appointed to fill a vacancy occurring on the expiration of a term thereafter shall be four years. For a delinquency prevention commission existing on the effective date of the amendment made to this section at the 1973–74 Regular Session of the Legislature the board of supervisors may at any time upon the expiration of all the members’ terms of office appoint members to hold office for the following terms: one-half of the membership of an even-numbered commission for a term of two years and one-half plus one of the membership of an odd-numbered commission for a term of two years. The remaining members and the term of office of each successor appointed to fill a vacancy occurring on the expiration of a term thereafter shall be four years. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section, the board of supervisors shall appoint two or more persons who are between 14 and 21 years of age to membership on a delinquency prevention commission, provided there are available persons between 14 and 21 years of age who are able to carry out the duties of a commission member in a manner satisfactory to the appointing authority.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 233.5. Section 233.5.

In a county having a population of over 6,000,000, the board of supervisors may assign the responsibility for assisting and advising the board and other county officers concerning the publication and distribution of allegedly indecent or pornographic materials and such other related duties as the board may determine proper to the delinquency prevention commission established pursuant to Section 233.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 234. Section 234.

The board of supervisors may by ordinance provide for the establishment, support, and maintenance of a delinquency prevention agency or department, or may assign delinquency prevention duties to any existing county agency, or department. Any such agency or department may engage in activities designed to prevent juvenile and adult delinquency, including rendering direct and indirect services to persons in the community, and may cooperate with any other agency of government in carrying out its purposes.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 235. Section 235.

The juvenile court and the probation department of any county may establish, or assist in the establishment of, any public council or committee having as its object the prevention of juvenile delinquency and may cooperate with, or participate in, the work of any such councils or committees for the purpose of preventing or decreasing juvenile delinquency, including the improving of recreational, health, and other conditions in the community affecting juvenile welfare.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 236. Section 236.

Notwithstanding any other law, probation departments may engage in activities designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. These activities include rendering direct and indirect services to persons in the community. Probation departments shall not be limited to providing services only to those persons on probation being supervised under Section 330 or 654, but may provide services to any juveniles in the community. Services or programs offered to minors or minors’ parents or guardians who are not on probation are voluntary and shall not include probation conditions or consequences as a result of not engaging in or completing those programs or services. For minors not on probation, the provision of services or programs under this section shall not be construed to allow probation departments to maintain a formal or informal caseload, establish formal or informal contracts with minors or minors’ parents or guardians, or create mandated-probation conditions.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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