In re Miguel C. ( 2021 )

Filed 9/30/21
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In re Miguel C., a Person Coming
Under the Juvenile Court Law.
THE PEOPLE, D078013
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. J242744)
MIGUEL C.,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County,
Richard R. Monroy, Judge. Reversed with directions.
Christine M. Aros, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Objector and Appellant.
Matthew Rodriquez, Acting Attorney General, Lance E. Winters and
Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorneys General, Charles C. Ragland and Scott
C. Taylor, Deputy Attorneys General, for Petitioner and Respondent.
Before committing a minor to the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ),
the state’s most restrictive placement for its most severe juvenile offenders,
the law requires the juvenile court to find both that the placement would
probably benefit the minor, and that less restrictive options would be either
ineffective or inappropriate. In re Carlos J. (2018) 22 Cal.App.5th 1(Carlos J.) reversed a DJJ placement for a minor with no significant criminal
record because the only evidence offered by the People, a probation
department study that lacked even cursory information about DJJ programs,
was not enough to sustain the commitment decision. In this case, we address
an issue anticipated, but not decided, in Carlos J.—namely, what constitutes
substantial evidence to support a DJJ commitment when the minor has
submitted reliable evidence that such a placement would undermine the
minor’s specific rehabilitative needs, and where the minor’s own history does
not demonstrate that less restrictive options would not work?
We conclude that where a minor presents evidence suggesting that a
DJJ placement would be harmful for reasons specific to the minor, the People
must provide some contrary evidence that would enable the juvenile court to
make a comparative analysis of the placement options before it concludes the
minor will probably benefit from DJJ, and that less restrictive options would
be ineffective or inappropriate. Here, expert testimony indicated that placing
this minor in DJJ would be counterproductive because it would likely assure
his entrenchment in gang culture and, due to the ready availability of drugs
in DJJ facilities, undermine efforts to treat and improve a significant
substance abuse disorder that led to a single episode of violent criminal
behavior over the course of a few hours. Beyond identifying that substance
abuse treatment was available at DJJ, the People introduced no responsive
evidence. So, as in Carlos J., we reverse and remand in an opinion that
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focuses not on the substantive correctness of the juvenile court’s conclusion,
but on the procedural requirement that there be evidence in the record to
support whatever conclusion the court reaches. On remand, given
intervening changes to the juvenile court law, the trial court must first make
a threshold finding as to whether juvenile justice realignment now precludes
commitment to DJJ. (See Welf. & Inst. Code,1 § 736.5.)
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In the fall of 2019, a large group of teenagers including 16-year-old
Miguel C. gathered at Grove Park in Escondido and severely beat M.R., who
later died from blunt force trauma. One witness told police officers she saw
about 20 young people “jump” M.R., using skateboards and knives in the
attack. A hammer recovered near the scene was likely also used as a
weapon. Officers who responded detained several suspects, including one
minor who had recorded part of the beating on her cellphone. The video
showed about 30 seconds of the incident and captured over 70 blows aimed at
the victim from multiple youths involved in the assault.
While officers were responding to the initial assault, another attack
was reported just a few blocks away. After leaving Grove Park, Miguel
accosted a man as he was parking his car to unload groceries, punching him
in the head repeatedly. When the man attempted to run away—abandoning
his car in the process—Miguel pursued him and punched him in the head
again. Miguel was then arrested, and quickly connected to the earlier Grove
Park assault.
The video, a witness account, and some details provided by the
teenagers involved confirmed that Miguel was a primary actor in the assault
1 Further undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and
Institutions Code.
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on M.R.—though it appeared he did not use any weapons. Miguel
consistently maintained that he did not remember the park incident or
attacking the second man because he blacked out from excessive alcohol
consumption, in addition to ingesting cocaine.
Investigators eventually determined that the fatal assault at Grove
Park was gang related. M.R. was apparently a known associate of the
Diablos gang, which has recently been feuding with a tagging crew known as
“B.A.D-K.” or “B.D.K.” Miguel denied any B.D.K association, but admitted
his friends were members and said that if the group had encountered a
Diablos associate, they would probably “jump” that person. There were
conflicting stories about how the fight started. At least two accounts from the
teenagers indicated M.R. attacked Miguel first, putting him in a chokehold.
But an uninvolved witness watched the group surround M.R. before
attacking him, apparently unprovoked.
A juvenile wardship petition filed by the San Diego District Attorney
alleged that Miguel had committed murder for the benefit of a criminal street
gang (Pen. Code, §§ 187, subd. (a), 186.22, subd. (b)(1)), and assault likely to
produce great bodily injury (id., § 245, subd. (a)(4)). The petition was later
amended to include a manslaughter charge for the benefit of a gang (Pen.
Code, §§ 192, subd. (a), 186.22, subd. (b)(1)), to which Miguel pleaded guilty
in exchange for dismissal of the other charges.
While the violence committed in the span of a few minutes by the group
of minors–and particularly by Miguel—is both tragic and stunning, Miguel’s
previously unblemished record only makes his participation more perplexing.
He had never been arrested, and was not even documented as a potential
gang associate. As his defense attorney explained to the court, she would
usually have contested the gang enhancement for a case like this, but
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counseled her client to accept it as part of his plea deal because the
prosecutor’s overall offer was reasonable.
The defense retained Dr. Gimel Rogers, a clinical psychologist, to
evaluate Miguel. She chronicled his difficult family history, which included
neglect and abandonment by his parents—both of whom have addictions that
inhibited their ability to care for Miguel and his siblings. Miguel was
exposed to substance abuse in early childhood, and although his home life
improved significantly since he went to live with his aunt at the age of 12,
that was also about the age he began using marijuana heavily. Miguel
disclosed that by the time he was 16, he was using alcohol, marijuana, and
methamphetamine on a regular basis.
Dr. Rogers diagnosed Miguel with severe substance use disorders for
alcohol and cannabis, and a moderate use disorder for methamphetamine.
She indicated that he also dealt with anxiety and depression, as well as
behavioral issues such as running away from home and fighting. Despite
these challenges, she found Miguel demonstrated resilient characteristics and
could overcome adversity, but would need intensive therapy to help with his
substance abuse and to address his family history. Dr. Rogers did not
consider Miguel to be gang entrenched, and believed that he did not
remember the assault given the evidence corroborating Miguel’s account of
his state of mind,2 and the mixture of substances he had consumed.
Dr. Rogers assessed Miguel to have a low to moderate risk of
committing future serious violence, noting that most of his risk factors were
2 Among other things, Dr. Rogers took note of the transcript of an audio
recording of Miguel and another involved youth talking in the back of a police
car after the incident, while they were alone and unaware that they were
being recorded. Miguel consistently stated that he did remember anything
and asked the other minor a lot of questions about what occurred.
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historical, such as early caregiver disruption, and that his protective factors
going forward were promising, such as strong social support and positive
attitudes toward intervention and authority. Ultimately, Dr. Rogers
recommended Miguel be placed in a lower level security structured
environment, such as the youthful offender rehabilitation program offered at
Youthful Offender Units (YOU), and warned that a commitment to a higher
level security environment such as the DJJ might put his rehabilitative
chances at risk by exposing him to more drugs, higher instances of violence,
and a social structure revolving around gang affiliation.3
In contrast, the probation department prepared a social study that
judged Miguel’s recidivism risk to be high and recommended a commitment
to DJJ. The report put particular emphasis on the seriousness of Miguel’s
crimes, and four documented fights he was involved in at Juvenile Hall.
Although the report acknowledged that Miguel was performing well in other
ways, having improved significantly in his schoolwork while in custody, it
nonetheless concluded that this was evidence that Miguel “responds well”
when “placed in a structured environment” before recommending a more
secure setting. The report acknowledged that Dr. Rogers’s primary diagnosis
concerned Miguel’s substance abuse, but said nothing about her conclusion
that a DJJ placement would undermine Miguel’s rehabilitation. It also listed
3 Megan Baldwin, senior program manager of the Second Chance
Youthful Offender Rehabilitation Program had not evaluated Miguel but
testified generally about programs offered through YOU specifically for gang
at-risk youth. Core curricula help youth offenders examine the behaviors
that brought them to juvenile hall, overcome gang mentalities, and address
their substance abuse. Upon release, minors continue to work with regional
counselors throughout the probationary term who can refer them to
appropriate programs and services.
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programs available at DJJ that it thought Miguel would benefit from, one of
which was a substance abuse program.
At Miguel’s contested disposition hearing, the defense asked for Miguel
to be given an opportunity in the less restrictive YOU program. Dr. Rogers
testified and reiterated her conclusion that YOU would be a more appropriate
placement than DJJ. A senior program manager for YOU also testified and
detailed the support programs available for youth at risk of gang involvement
and those with substance abuse issues. She specified that minors can
typically stay at YOU for 6 to 12 months, with counseling support that
usually lasts 12 to 18 months and ends when a youth’s probation period is
over.
The People presented no witnesses and relied solely on the probation
report. In her closing argument, the prosecutor asked for a DJJ commitment
because she thought the 12 month residential program that YOU could offer
would not be long enough to rehabilitate Miguel. The court ultimately
agreed, committing Miguel to DJJ for the maximum term of 16 years (6 years
for the manslaughter plus 10 for the gang enhancement) based on its concern
that Miguel needed to be in a structured environment for as long as possible
to have the best chance at rehabilitation.
DISCUSSION
Miguel raises only one issue on appeal, citing the Court of Appeal
opinion in Carlos J., supra, 22 Cal.App.5th 1 and arguing there was
insufficient evidence to support the juvenile court’s decision to commit him to
the DJJ instead of employing a less restrictive option. We agree that the
present record fails to adequately address and respond to evidence indicating
that a DJJ commitment would be counterproductive. Accordingly, and
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without expressing any view on the ultimate outcome, we reverse and
remand for a new dispositional hearing.
A. Background: The Shifting Landscape of Juvenile Justice
In In re Aline D. (1975) 14 Cal.3d 557 (Aline D.), our Supreme Court
explained that “ ‘[t]he statutory scheme . . . as now embodied in sections 730
et seq. of the Welfare and Institutions Code, contemplates a progressively
restrictive and punitive series of disposition orders . . . namely, home
placement under supervision, foster home placement, placement in a local
treatment facility and, as a last resort, Youth Authority placement.’ ”4
(Aline D., at p. 564.) A graduated approach to disposition orders became “a
major component of Juvenile Court Law” whose application was not limited
to less violent offenders. (In re Michael R. (1977) 73 Cal.App.3d 327, 334
(Michael R.).)
The analysis changed slightly in 1984, when statutory amendments to
section 202 expanded the focus of the court’s placement decision to
“recognize[ ] punishment as a rehabilitative tool and emphasize[ ] the
protection and safety of the public.” (In re Lorenza M. (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d
49, 57; § 202.) Before the 1984 amendment, a minor’s rehabilitation was the
only permissible concern in determining a proper placement. (Lorenza M., at
p. 57; In re Michael D. (1987) 188 Cal.App.3d 1392, 1396.) Although the post-
amendment scheme continued to contemplate “a progressively more
restrictive and punitive series of dispositions” with DJJ “normally a
placement of last resort” (In re M.S. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 1241, 1250), it
placed no absolute bar on commitment to DJJ in the first instance so long as
evidence showed a probable benefit to the minor and the ineffectiveness or
4 The DJJ was previously known as the California Youth Authority
(CYA). (People v. Superior Court (Lara) (2018) 4 Cal.5th 299, 306.)
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inappropriateness of less restrictive alternatives. (In re Carl N. (2008) 160
Cal.App.4th 423, 433(Carl N.); In re Teofilio A. (1989) 210 Cal.App.3d 571,
576−577 (Teofilio A.); In re George M. (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 376, 379 (George
M.); In re Eddie M. (2003) 31 Cal.4th 480, 488; § 734.)
More recently, the pendulum has shifted back toward primarily
rehabilitative aims, with the Legislature in 2020 overhauling the juvenile
court law through “juvenile justice realignment.” (See Stats. 2020, ch. 337
(Sen. Bill No. 823).) By closing DJJ and transferring jurisdiction over youth
offenders to counties, the stated purpose of juvenile justice realignment is
“[t]o ensure that justice-involved youth are closer to their families and
communities and receive age-appropriate treatment.” (Id., § 1(b).) The
expansive legislation draws from evidence that “justice system-involved
youth are more successful when they remain connected to their families and
communities,” have lower recidivism rates, and are better prepared to
transition back into their communities. (Id., § 1(a).) To implement
realignment, counties are to be given funding to implement public health and
community based programs that support positive youth development and
reduce crime. (Id., § 1(c).) A new Office of Youth and Community
Restoration, housed under the Health and Human Services Agency rather
than the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, is tasked with
helping counties make the transition, including by promoting “trauma
responsive, culturally informed services for youth involved in the juvenile
justice system.” (Legis. Counsel’s Dig., Sen. Bill No. 823 (2019−2020 Reg.
Sess.); § 2200.)
The realignment bill substantively rewrote major portions of the
juvenile court law. Effective July 1, 2021, newly enacted section 736.5 shifts
responsibility for convicted youth offenders from DJJ to the county level.
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(§ 736.5, subd. (a).) All wards committed to DJJ prior to July 1, 2021 will
remain in DJJ custody. (Id., subd. (d).) But pending final closure of DJJ in
June 2023, a court may only make a DJJ commitment if the minor “is
otherwise eligible to be committed under existing law and in whose case a
motion to transfer the minor from juvenile court to a court of criminal
jurisdiction was filed.” (Id., subds. (b), (c), (e); see also § 733.1, subds.
(a)−(b).) As an alternative to DJJ commitment, courts “shall consider . . .
placement in local programs,” including county level programs created to
implement realignment. (§ 736.5, subd. (c).) Although realignment does not
change section 202, which recognizes punishment as a potential
rehabilitative tool, the new scheme implicitly places less weight on
punishment by prioritizing treatment and restricting commitment avenues.
California’s shifting landscape on juvenile justice is in keeping with
broader trends. Landmark juvenile criminal cases in recent decades have
increasingly recognized that all juvenile offenders are presumptively capable
of rehabilitation—even those who have committed terrible crimes. As the
United States Supreme Court observed in Roper v. Simmons (2005) 543 U.S.
551, 570, “the character of a juvenile is not as well formed as that of an
adult[,]” and consequently, “[t]he personality traits of juveniles are more
transitory, less fixed.” Although this reality is perhaps self-evident to anyone
who remembers their own adolescence or has guided a child through that
tumultuous time (J.D.B. v. North Carolina (2011) 564 U.S. 261, 272),
scientific research increasingly supports the notion that juveniles are still
changing: “developments in psychology and brain science continue to show
fundamental differences between juvenile and adult minds. For example,
parts of the brain involved in behavior control continue to mature through
late adolescence. [Citation.] Juveniles are more capable of change than are
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adults, and their actions are less likely to be evidence of ‘irretrievably
depraved character’ than are the actions of adults.” (Graham v. Florida
(2010) 560 U.S. 48, 68; accord Miller v. Alabama (2012) 567 U.S. 460, 471‒
480.)
Given these developments and the significant rehabilitative focus of our
state’s juvenile court law even pre-realignment, the prospect that a particular
sentencing decision might place a minor in a setting that is likely to entrench
nascent criminal tendencies rather than encourage reform is particularly
concerning. As such, cases like this one where a child with no prior record is
committed to the DJJ after a first offense—albeit a serious one—merit
particular scrutiny. Miguel was committed to DJJ in August 2020, before
juvenile justice realignment took effect. Even so, his commitment to DJJ in
the first instance may be upheld only upon a showing of probable benefit to
Miguel and ineffectiveness or inappropriateness of less restrictive
alternatives. (Carl N., supra, 160 Cal.App.4th at p. 433; Teofilio A., supra,
210 Cal.App.3d at p. 576.)
B. Substantial Evidence Review
We review a juvenile court’s placement decision for abuse of discretion.
(Carl N., supra, 160 Cal.App.4th at pp. 431−432.) “ ‘ “[A] trial court abuses
its discretion when the factual findings critical to its decision find no support
in the evidence.” ’ ” (In re Nicole H. (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 1150, 1154.)
Accordingly, we consider whether substantial evidence supports the juvenile
court’s commitment order consistent with the purpose of the juvenile court
law. (Ibid.; Teofilio A., supra, 210 Cal.App.3d at p. 579.) Substantial
evidence, in turn, “must be reasonable in nature, credible, and of solid value;
it must actually be ‘substantial’ proof of the essentials which the law requires
in a particular case.” (Estate of Teed (1952) 112 Cal.App.2d 638, 644.)
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Miguel questions whether this threshold was met in his case, and we
find considerable guidance for evaluating his argument in the relatively
recent Carlos J. opinion from the First Appellate District. (Carlos J., supra,22 Cal.App.5th 1.) Carlos J. involved a minor in much the same position as
Miguel—lacking a serious criminal record but sent to DJJ after committing a
violent crime. Carlos, who was 15 at the time, confronted a rival gang
associate who had apparently tried to “jump” Carlos the previous year. (Id.
at pp. 4, 7.) After exchanging words, Carlos and an older member of his gang
who was with him “drew firearms and shot five or six times in the direction of
the victim” who then fled, fortuitously escaping without injury. (Id. at p. 4.)
Prior to this incident, Carlos had no “substantial” record, though he had
previously been arrested and failed to complete a diversionary program.
(Id. at p. 7, fn. 4.) He also struggled at school and had been cited for defiant
behavior and fighting there. (Id. at p. 7.)
A psychologist who evaluated Carlos explained that he had a “ ‘history
of trauma and active PTSD,’ ” but noted he was amenable to treatment, and
identified “ ‘individual psycho-therapy’ ” as his primary need. (Carlos J.,
supra, 22 Cal.App.5th at p. 8.) She did not favor a DJJ placement for Carlos,
noting that given his youth and the nature of his trauma he would benefit
from “ ‘high structure and therapy’ ” in a less restrictive setting. (Ibid.) The
probation department made a contrary recommendation for a DJJ
commitment. It acknowledged the psychologist’s report but also asserted
that Carlos posed a public safety risk and concluded, “ ‘he must be contained
in a state facility where his educational, therapeutic, and emotional issues
can be addressed in a secured facility.’ ” (Id. at pp. 8‒9.) This was the only
evidence submitted to support the People’s placement recommendation. The
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juvenile court ultimately committed Carlos to DJJ, citing the seriousness of
his crime, his gang activity, and the danger to public safety. (Id. at pp. 9‒10.)
In reversing, the appellate court explained that there was “no evidence
before the juvenile court regarding any ‘intensive treatment’ appellant might
receive at [DJJ],” information that would have been necessary for the court to
conclude that a DJJ commitment would probably benefit Carlos by meeting
his most pressing needs. (Carlos J., supra, 22 Cal.App.5th at p. 10.) It also
identified the “need to weaken [Carlos’s] affiliation with the Sureños gang” as
a “critical issue for the juvenile court to consider in determining probable
benefit.” (Id. at p. 11.) The court explained that the probation officer’s
recommendation amounted to an “unexplained and unsupported assertion of
possible benefit . . . not evidence of ‘reasonable, credible and of solid value’
from which the juvenile court could make an informed assessment of the
likelihood a [DJJ] placement would be of benefit to appellant, in light of his
specific needs.” (Id. at p. 10.) Because “the law required the juvenile court,
not the probation department, to make the finding of probable benefit,” and
there was no “evidence in the record of the programs at the [DJJ] expected to
be of benefit to appellant,” the commitment could not stand. (Ibid.)
In coming to this conclusion, the Carlos J. court explained that there
are two evidentiary thresholds the People must meet to support a DJJ
commitment. As an initial, preliminary showing, the probation department
is required to (1) identify programs at DJJ that would likely benefit the
particular minor, and (2) “include brief descriptions of the relevant
programs.” (Carlos J., supra, 22 Cal.App.5th at p. 12.) The failure of
evidence at this initial step prompted the reversal in Carlos J.
But the opinion went on to discuss what was required once the People
clear the first evidentiary hurdle. Of particular relevance here, the appellate
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court commented that after the People make a minimal showing to support a
DJJ commitment for a particular minor, the minor might then “dispute the
availability or efficacy of particular programs, or . . . suggest that other
conditions at the [DJJ] undermine the programs [by presenting] sufficient
evidence to reasonably bring into question the benefit he or she will receive
. . . . ” (Carlos J., supra, 22 Cal.App.5th at p. 13.) In the event of credible
opposing evidence, the People would then be obligated “to present more
indepth information about the [DJJ] in order to show probable benefit.” (Id.
at p. 14.)
Our case appears to pick up where Carlos J. left off, at this second step.
The probation study in this case provided a list of DJJ programs, with brief
descriptions, that it thought Miguel could benefit from—one of which
addressed substance abuse, identified by Dr. Rogers as Miguel’s primary
treatment need. The inclusion of this information in the study appears to
meet the initial minimal showing described in Carlos J. (22 Cal.App.5th at
p. 12.) But Miguel then countered with evidence that a DJJ commitment
would actually be adverse to his rehabilitation given his particular needs,
identifying “other conditions at the DJJ,” namely the ready availability of
drugs and the entrenched gang atmosphere, that would probably undermine
the efficacy of DJJ’s programming for him. (See id. at p. 13.) Because this
evidence came from Dr. Rogers’s clinical assessment of how Miguel would
respond to the DJJ environment, it was “of ‘reasonable, credible and . . . solid
value’ ” and called into question the probation study’s conclusion that a DJJ
commitment would benefit Miguel. (Id. at pp. 10, 13.)
Consistent with the sequential process outlined in Carlos J., we
conclude that in response to Dr. Rogers’s report and opinions the People were
obligated to provide the court with some additional information that would
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enable it to make a comparative analysis of the benefit to Miguel of the
different placement options prior to deciding whether Miguel would likely
benefit from DJJ, and whether other options would be ineffective or
inappropriate. By way of example, Carlos J. explained that the People might
counter evidence that the gang environment in DJJ would be detrimental to
the minor’s particular needs “with testimony showing improvements in the
gang intervention programs or showing flaws in the analysis in the minor’s
evidence. Such information would enable the juvenile court to balance the
benefits of the gang intervention services against the risk that confinement
at the [DJJ] would harden the minor’s gang affiliation and criminality.”
(Carlos J., supra, 22 Cal.App.5th at p. 14.) Only after hearing such evidence
could the juvenile court fulfill its obligation to “consider ‘the broadest range of
information’ in determining how best to rehabilitate a minor and afford him
adequate care.” (In re Robert H. (2002) 96 Cal.App.4th 1317, 1329.)
Here, the People relied solely on the probation study, which failed to
address the substance of Dr. Rogers’s analysis or provide a contrary expert
opinion.5 Moreover, given Miguel’s lack of history in the juvenile system, the
court had less evidence than it often does to assess whether less restrictive
placement options would fail. (Compare In re A.R. (2018) 24 Cal.App.5th
1076, 1081 [upholding a DJJ commitment where “Minor had a long history
with the juvenile system and the juvenile court had already tried various less
restrictive placements”] with Michael R., supra, 73 Cal.App.3d at pp. 338–
339 [“We cannot assume without some evidence on the record that minor will
not respond” to the rehabilitative programs available at less restrictive
5 The probation study essentially dismissed Dr. Rogers’s findings by
summarizing them, and then moving on to its DJJ recommendation without
offering further information or discussion.
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placements]; see also In re Calvin S. (2016) 5 Cal.App.5th 522, 532 [reversing
a DJJ commitment where there was no “valid reason, supported by
admissible evidence” that the less restrictive placement option “would be
ineffective or inappropriate”].) In such circumstances, we cannot say the
commitment to DJJ was based on credible evidence supporting the legally
required findings.
In reaching this conclusion, we are sensitive to the traditional
deference shown to the juvenile court in these matters. We reverse only for
an abuse of discretion. (George M., supra, 14 Cal.App.4th at p. 379.) But an
abuse of discretion occurs when there is not enough evidence to support the
findings that are necessary before committing a minor to DJJ. (Teofilio A.,
supra, 210 Cal.App.3d at p. 579.) “The bottom line is that, where a minor has
concerns about a particular aspect of the [DJJ] and presents evidence
supporting those concerns, it may be necessary for the People to provide
additional information to the juvenile court in order for the court to make a
properly supported finding of probable benefit.” (Carlos J., supra, 22Cal.App.5th at p. 14.) This is such a case.
C. Proceedings on Remand
Ordinarily, proceedings on remand would follow a predictable course.
The People would have the opportunity at a new disposition hearing to
provide additional information supporting their view that commitment
carries a probable benefit to Miguel notwithstanding his articulated concerns.
Nothing in our opinion would be construed to undermine the juvenile court’s
consideration of permissible factors in its placement decision. Public safety,
which appears to have animated the court’s decision both here and in
Carlos J., remains a consideration explicitly permitted by the law (§ 202), and
the trial court would be entrusted with determining the level of security and
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length of time necessary for the minor’s commitment on a more developed
record.
Before making such an inquiry, however, the sweeping juvenile justice
realignment reforms effected by Senate Bill No. 823 require the juvenile
court to consider as a threshold matter whether commitment to DJJ remains
permissible. (See, e.g., Dix v. Superior Court (1991) 53 Cal.3d 442, 460
[“when a case is remanded for resentencing after an appeal, the defendant is
entitled to ‘all the normal rights and procedures available at his original
sentencing’ [citations], including consideration of any pertinent
circumstances which have arisen since the prior sentence was imposed”].)
We leave it to the trial court whether to invite briefing from the parties on
the scope and effect of realignment, including newly enacted section 736.5, in
making this decision. Only if commitment to DJJ remains an option need the
court consider whether, on a more fully developed record, it would confer a
probable benefit to Miguel consistent with the juvenile court law’s intended
purpose. (Carlos J., supra, 22 Cal.App.5th at p. 14; Teofilio A., supra, 210Cal.App.3d at p. 579.) And if the court finds section 736.5 precludes
commitment, it must reach an alternative placement decision.
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DISPOSITION
The order committing Miguel to DJJ is reversed, and the matter is
remanded to the juvenile court for a new disposition hearing consistent with
this opinion.
DATO, J.
WE CONCUR:
AARON, Acting P. J.
IRION, J.
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