Survey results from juvenile justice client experience

In 2018, the Probation Department rolled out a pilot survey in the Juvenile Hall. This pilot led to the development of three separate surveys, which later were streamlined into one, which covers the following operational areas:
• Admissions and Clinic
• Orientation, Housing and Safety
• Programs and Services
The survey is administered semi-annually on a rotating basis to all youth who reside in the Juvenile Hall. The 2018 survey results served as the baseline data. These surveys are quite comprehensive and as a result, only a handful of key indicators are reported in the dataset.

In 2019, the Probation Department piloted a draft of a client experience survey based upon feedback from multiple stakeholders including clients, staff, and community stakeholders. This pilot led to a client experience survey that was one page, double sided that was clear and simple for clients to complete. This survey asked clients about their experiences related to getting to Probation, the physical space of the Probation buildings, interactions with staff and services received. At the previous administration of the survey in January 2020, research staff administered the survey in person in the Adult Probation lobby areas. For the 2021 administration, the survey was handed to clients by reception staff and a secure lockbox was provided for clients to deposit the completed surveys. The survey was comprised of 11 questions on the first page, asking respondents for their opinion on a list of statements about their experience at the Adult Probation Office and an additional three questions that asked about challenges encountered during COVID-19. The primary focus was the lobby area and check-in process. Respondents graded their experience on a scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree. The second page of the survey asked about the nature of their visit, basic demographic information, and their probation status.

In November 2020, the Probation Department administered its first client experience survey at the James Ranch. The survey covered the following operational areas:
•Orientation and admission
•James Ranch policies and procedures
•Facility cleanliness
•Youths’ perceived safety and comfort
Each survey is administered semi-annually on a rotating basis to all youth at the James Ranch. The 2020 survey results served as the baseline data. These surveys are quite comprehensive and as a result, only a handful of key indicators are reported below. However, all indicators are used by the Department for quality improvement internally.