San Diego County Probation with San Diego Youth Services are implementing a million-dollar grant from the Sierra Health Foundation, California Office of Youth and Community Restoration and The Vera Institute of Justice to reduce and ultimately end the incarceration of girls and gender-expansive youth.
With the two-year grant and strategic support from the state, Probation has implemented the San Diego Ending Girls Incarceration Initiative that is comprehensive, equity driven, focused on diversion, intervention, and community-based alternatives to detention. The strategy is to improve health outcomes and empower girls and gender-expansive youth who are at risk of or are currently engaged in the youth justice legal system.
“By prioritizing a shift from a traditional, punitive approach to a holistic, youth-centered model, that focuses on healing, accountability, and well-being, we are providing youth with access to meaningful support and a path forward,” said Chief Probation Officer Tamika Nelson. “We are proud of the progress we’ve made in shifting the way our systems respond to girls and gender-expansive youth.”
The San Diego Ending Girls Incarceration Initiative reflects a growing movement across the state and country to dismantle systemic conditions that lead to girls being incarcerated, especially those who have experienced trauma, exploitation, or are involved in the criminal justice system, and who are Black, Indigenous, Latina, or LGBTQ+.
In San Diego, Probation established a collective that includes county stakeholders, community advocates, and lived experience experts to work together and guide local strategy and accountability. Additionally, youth and community focus groups were conducted to ensure lived experience is considered in policy decisions.
“This work is only possible through strong partnerships, community voice, youth voice, and an unwavering commitment to equity and dignity for all youth,” Nelson said.
Racial disparities and other local data were analyzed by Probation staff to identify situations or factors that drive girls to incarceration. Probation is focused on more individualized and developmentally appropriate responses to cases. This includes establishing a discretionary warrant policy that allows eligible youth to report directly to court on a warrant and not have to be taken into custody.
The initiative underscores Probation’s belief that all youth deserve dignity, opportunity, and the chance to thrive outside of confinement. The department remains committed to system improvement, accountability, and community engagement for this critical work.
