News Summary
San Diego County is moving to phase out the use of pepper spray on juveniles in detention facilities. Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe is advocating for this change in response to ethical concerns over the treatment of young offenders. The proposal includes a plan for de-escalation training for staff and a review of solitary confinement practices, aiming to reform the juvenile justice system in San Diego and align with broader state reforms.
San Diego – San Diego County is proposing to phase out the use of pepper spray on juveniles in detention facilities, following growing concerns over their treatment. Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe is leading this initiative, calling for a significant reform in the way juvenile offenders are managed in custody.
Montgomery Steppe has asserted that there is no need for minors to be subjected to chemical agents such as pepper spray, which has been used frequently in past incidents. Reports from detention facilities indicate that staff often resort to using pepper spray instead of attempting to de-escalate confrontations between juveniles. There have been troubling cases where young individuals were sprayed for not complying with strip searches, raising significant ethical concerns about the treatment of detainees.
As part of her proposal, Montgomery Steppe plans to recommend that the Chief Probation Officer develop a phased-out implementation plan for pepper spray usage within the next two years. This plan will be presented at an upcoming board meeting, intersecting with an increasing focus on juvenile justice reform within the state.
The push for change aligns with guidelines from the U.S. Department of Justice, which points out that few states allow the use of pepper spray on young offenders. In addition to eliminating this chemical agent, Montgomery Steppe is advocating for mandatory de-escalation training for youth probation officers, aiming to equip them with the skills necessary to manage potentially volatile situations more effectively.
Another aspect of the reform efforts includes a reevaluation of solitary confinement practices among juveniles. Montgomery Steppe emphasizes the necessity of creating systems that foster youth development rather than intensify trauma experienced during detention.
This proposed reform comes at a crucial time, as it coincides with a civil rights investigation launched by California Attorney General Rob Bonta into the conditions at San Diego’s juvenile facilities. The investigation will examine whether there is a pattern of unlawful treatment of youth and will evaluate the conditions at facilities including the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility and Youth Transition Campus. While the inquiry is underway, the conclusion date for the investigation has yet to be established.
Supporters of Montgomery Steppe’s proposals argue that these changes are vital for ensuring that juveniles are treated humanely and with dignity, allowing them the opportunity for rehabilitation instead of punishment. They stress that using chemical agents and solitary confinement can lead to long-term psychological harm and does little to address the root causes of delinquent behaviors among youths.
As this initiative progresses, it will undoubtedly influence discussions about juvenile justice reform not only in San Diego County but potentially across California and beyond. Advocates for reform hope that phasing out pepper spray use and other punitive measures will usher in a new era of rehabilitation-focused approaches within the juvenile justice system.
The ongoing scrutiny of detention facilities by state regulators and the proposal from Montgomery Steppe herald a significant shift in philosophy regarding youth in the justice system, prioritizing well-being and development over control and punishment. The implications of these changes could resonate well into the future, affecting policies and practices that shape the lives of young offenders in California.
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Additional Resources
- CBS 8 – San Diego Supervisor to End Pepper Spray in Juvenile Detention
- Google Search: juvenile detention reform
- NBC San Diego – San Diego County De-Escalation Training
- Google Scholar: juvenile justice reform
- Public CEO – San Diego Adopts De-Escalation Policies
- Encyclopedia Britannica: juvenile justice
- KSAT – Call for Better De-Escalation Tactics
- Google News: de-escalation tactics

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