Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Governance
Juvenile domestic violence and juvenile family violence are distinct phenomena. But
there is growing knowledge of their prevalence in the society. Sobering statistics indicate
that abuse committed by juveniles is a “hidden epidemic”. A 2001 study indicated
that one in five female high school students reported physical or sexual abuse
by a dating partner. The Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council’s Death
Review Committee, which has reviewed all domestic violence-related homicides in
the county since 1993, has found that many of the total domestic violence-related
deaths (from 11.7 to 41.6% per period) occurred in relationships that began when the
victim was underage. Youth exposed to violent relationships are at risk for more serious
or even deadly violence as adults.
Criminal justice interventions for violent youth were inadequate. Police merely referred
incidents of youth violence to probation officers who informally counseled
offenders before referring a matter for prosecution. Even if charges were filed against
a violent youth, the criminal disposition may still result in an “informal” probationbased
response. As a result, teen dating violence and family violence incidents were
not being recognized as the serious crimes that they are. Parents and juveniles were
not receiving necessary assistance to rehabilitate the young offenders. Victims also
did not receive restitution to compensate them for their economic losses, information
regarding disposition of their cases and the important community program referrals
they needed in order to heal.
The Solution
The “hidden epidemic” of youth violence was addressed in 1999, when Santa Clara
County established the first program in the nation to specifically intervene in issues
of juvenile domestic and family violence. In 1999, under the leadership of Superior
Court Judge Eugene M. Hyman, the Santa Clara County established the Juvenile
Domestic and Family Violence Court – the first of its kind in the nation.
The new program represented a broad collaboration between the court, law enforcement,
the District Attorney, the Public Defender, Probation, and community service providers.
The program provided a comprehensive, “youth-specific” criminal justice intervention
that focused on uniting different divisions in a common effort to combat youth violence.
Although the concept of the Juvenile Domestic and Family Violence Court was conceived
by the Honorable Eugene M. Hyman, its success has depended on the active participation
and involvement of many other players and stakeholders. The government
agencies participating were: Santa Clara County Probation Department, Office of the
District Attorney, Office of the Public Defender, Each of the 13 police departments in the
county. The non-government agencies involved were: Victim services agencies (e.g.,
Victim-Witness), Legal services agencies (e.g., Legal Advocates for Children and Youth
and Support Network for Battered Women), Domestic Violence Intervention Programs.
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