2026 OCAP State of the Child Report

JUVENILE SUSTAINED PETITIONS YOUTH WITH JUVENILE SUSTAINED PETITIONS SHOW STRONGER OUTCOMES THROUGH COORDINATED SUPPORT AND SUPERVISION THAT ENCOURAGE GROWTH AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS DESCRIPTION OF INDICATOR When a juvenile petition is sustained in Riverside County, it means the youth has admitted to the allegations or the court has determined the allegations are true and the youth may be ordered to informal or formal probation. Looking at sustained petitions helps Riverside County understand the communities most impacted and the offense patterns that are bringing youth into the court system.

Why Is this indicator important?

Findings 1 • The number of juvenile sustained petitions increased by 59.8% over three years, from 107 sustained petitions in 2020 to 171 in 2023.

Because California emphasizes rehabilitation for justice-involved youth, progress depends on shared work across local partners— schools, county health and human services, law enforcement, and community-based organizations. Analyzing sustained petition trends can help Riverside County focus on prevention, early support, and effective rehabilitation efforts in the places and populations where they can make the greatest difference. To support youth success in staying clear of early and repeated justice system involvement, Riverside County Probation leads programs such as Successful Short-Term Supervision (SSTS), which is designed to make a youth’s first probation experience a true turning point. The program provides supportive, right sized supervision that helps youth and families reach early success—aiming to complete probation at the first review hearing with no new incidents or law violations. SSTS focuses on improving school attendance and performance, avoiding alcohol and drugs, connecting youth to counseling that fits their needs, and building healthier routines through community service and other pro-social activities.

1 Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Easy Access to Juvenile Populations (EZAPOP) Too, via Riverside County Probation Department

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