Wards: probation.

Assembly Member Bonta, joined by Elhawary and Haney, advances a measure that caps the probation period for minors adjudged as wards to 12 months from the most recent disposition hearing, with a framework for limited extensions after a noticed hearing if the ward’s and the public’s interests warrant it and subject to procedural safeguards. The core objective is to align probation practices with a developmentally appropriate, community-based approach, placing emphasis on individualized plans and reducing time under formal supervision when possible, while preserving the court’s authority to tailor conditions.

Key mechanisms include a required probation-extension process: the court may extend the period after a noticed hearing if the extension is supported by a preponderance of the evidence, the probation agency must file a report detailing the basis for the extension, and the ward and prosecuting attorney must have an opportunity to present relevant evidence. If extended, the court must hold subsequent noticed hearings at least every six months for the remainder of the wardship, and the extension is not available to certain wards in custodial commitments. In all extensions, conditions of probation must be individually tailored, developmentally appropriate, and reasonably related to rehabilitative goals, with progress reviews designed to determine the appropriate timing of termination.

The measure also revises provisions governing restitution, fines, and community service as conditions of probation. It would remove the court’s authority to impose a fixed $250 fine or require an uncompensated work program in lieu of restitution, while allowing restitution to victims or to property owners under specified circumstances, and permitting community service as an alternative or supplement where appropriate. New or revised sections authorize targeted restitution obligations in offenses such as battery on school property, and they expand mechanisms for cost recovery to public entities in graffiti removal and related cases, including procedures for recovery from minors and, in some instances, parents. The bill adds options such as school-program attendance, parental participation in counseling or education programs, and, in certain cases, graffiti abatement or community service in lieu of other dispositions. It also introduces drug-testing requirements and a potential sex offender treatment component for qualifying offenses, with conditions and cost considerations tied to the minor’s ability to pay. Additionally, the bill contemplates placement options and related safeguards for wards, including potential commitments to specialized facilities, while reaffirming that probationary terms must be proportionate and aligned with broader rehabilitative objectives. The overall framework reinforces a public-health, equity-focused orientation, aiming to minimize the use and duration of probation while expanding access to community resources and protections across youth-serving systems.