Commentary

Reimagining Youth Justice in Contra Costa County

“Advancing youth justice is one of my most important accomplishments,” said Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton. “We have an opportunity and a responsibility to re-imagine our justice system so that our youth have a greater chance to lead successful and enriching lives.”

Published

4 years ago

June 4, 2022

Oakland Post

Diana Becton. Facebook photo.

By Margaret Moore

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton has made tremendous strides to advance youth justice in Contra Costa County. Under her leadership, Contra Costa County was awarded $1 million from a state Dept. of Corrections grant to pilot a three-year program that provides alternatives to incarceration for young people who commit low-level offenses.

Through the grant, Becton launched R.E.S.T.O.R., the county’s first juvenile diversion program, in partnership with RYSE Youth Center of Richmond.

“Advancing youth justice is one of my most important accomplishments,” said Becton. “We have an opportunity and a responsibility to re-imagine our justice system so that our youth have a greater chance to lead successful and enriching lives.”

Youth ages 12 to 17 who have been arrested for minor crimes can be referred to the program by the DA’s office before charging. Youth who commit serious crimes, such as murder, rape, robbery, and carjacking with a weapon, are not accepted. The program helps reduce recidivism while also ensuring that young people have an individualized plan to help them turn their lives around.

Research shows that youth crime has been on a steady decline over the last 20 years, reinforcing the conclusion that moving away from youth incarceration is in the best interest of rehabilitation, public safety, and fiscal responsibility.

Youth can be better treated and rehabilitated in community contexts where they can retain ties to family, school, and their community. Programming and services that are based in the home or in the community are more successful at holding youth accountable and positively changing behavior than institutional settings.

According to Imprint News, “like facilities up and down the state, Contra Costa County’s hulking 290-bed John A. Davis Juvenile Hall — a maximum-security detention facility for juvenile offenders— sits mostly empty. On a recent day, it housed 35 youth.”

Despite the steep decline in youth crime and consequent reduction in numbers of incarcerated youth, the money invested into the operation of youth prisons has not been reduced accordingly.

Data shows that Contra Costa County spends an average of $500,000 per year per incarcerated child in Contra Costa Juvenile Hall.

Black youth and youth of color are most impacted by outdated approaches to public safety. According to Imprint News, “only 9% of Contra Costa County’s child population is Black, but Black youth make up 55% of those in detention. In contrast, white children are 35% of the population, but just 9% of those incarcerated.”

Becton also implemented additional policies to ensure the justice system truly works for everyone, not just the few.

In addition to the R.E.S.T.O.R. program, Becton has formed the Reimagine Youth Justice Task Force to recommend alternatives to incarceration for young people. She joined a Code for America initiative to dismiss thousands of old marijuana convictions, which disproportionately affect people of color in the community.

Her office piloted the California County Resentencing Pilot Program to address excessive sentencing. Becton is also partnering with The Vera Institute of Justice on data analysis to uncover and address bias in the disposition of criminal cases.

Margaret Moore is a co-founder of Hope Action Change.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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March 22, 2026

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC