Juvenile Probation Officers Survey: What Do We Know About Native Youth in California’s Juvenile Justice System?
Nearly two years ago, California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC) began a collaborative project with California’s Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) to better understand how Native youth are experiencing the state’s juvenile justice system. As a Coalition of nearly 50 Tribal Nations dedicated to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of tribal children and families, CTFC continues to prioritize work that uplifts tribal sovereignty, strengthens tribal voices, and expands culturally grounded supports for Native youth.
This year, we are continuing that work through the Juvenile Probation Officers Survey, designed to gather insight directly from those working closest to youth in probation settings. Building on a similar survey completed in 2023, this updated effort is focused on understanding:
How perceptions and knowledge among probation officers may have shifted over the past two years when working with Native youth, and
Whether Native youth are being placed in alternative and less restrictive settings at rates comparable to their peers.
Your perspective is essential. By sharing your professional experience, you help create a clearer picture of what Native youth encounter in the system—what is working, what is missing, and where promising practices can take root.
The information gathered will inform collaborative work between Probation Departments, Tribal Nations, and CTFC to strengthen culturally relevant approaches and improve outcomes for Native youth across California. Survey results will be summarized in a final report and used to shape future trainings and guidance for juvenile justice agencies statewide.
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
No identifying information is required, and all responses will be kept anonymous to the fullest extent possible. Participation is entirely voluntary, and we sincerely appreciate your time and expertise.
If you have any questions or would like to follow up with our team, please contact us at contact@caltribalfamilies.org.
Together, we can deepen understanding, strengthen partnerships, and build a more responsive and culturally informed system for Native youth.
