A Symbol of His Legacy

It’s fitting to name Ventura County’s new juvenile justice complex after the man who fought so hard to get it built: Justice Steven Z. Perren. Of the many people who worked in public or behind the scenes to put this dream on the road to reality, none has been more energetic or eloquent than Perren.

Yet his name on the building will be only a symbol of his contribution to Ventura County. Perren’s true legacy is the thousands of young people who have gone on to lead decent, productive, happy lives because Perren cared enough to get them the help they needed at the right moment.

“We remember him for his preventive measures rather than just for punishment,” Supervisor John Flynn said last week as the board unanimously adopted the name Justice Steven Z. Perren Juvenile Justice Complex.

When completed, the $65-million facility will replace the overcrowded and rundown juvenile hall and bring courtrooms, detention wards, classrooms, counseling services and administrative offices to one complex. The first phase is scheduled to open by May 2003.

The new facility is expected to significantly change juvenile justice in Ventura County. Police officers will be able to arrest and detain more young offenders, and judges will be able to order longer sentences for them. And while the teens are incarcerated, they will be able to receive more mental-health and substance-abuse counseling.

The new detention headquarters will retain the name of the current one, the Clifton Tatum Center, after a probation officer from Oxnard admired by many juvenile advocates. The new detention center could hold up to 420 offenders, more than twice the county’s current capacity.

A former prosecutor and civil attorney, Perren was appointed to the Ventura County Superior Court bench in 1982. Over the next 17 years, until he was elevated to the state appellate court, he presided over criminal, civil and family law cases but is best known for his dedication to young people after becoming juvenile court judge in 1991. His impact was profound on the system’s programs and facilities. He started local teen court and juvenile drug court programs and in 1995 began to champion the idea of a new complex that would bring the full range of youth services together in one place.

In 1999, Perren and a team of county officials traveled to Sacramento to compete for state money. The team argued its case to corrections officials in a competitive process against dozens of other counties--and was awarded $40.5 million.

“It was his vision and his passion to reduce recidivism and save lives that brought us to where we are today,” said Supervisor Judy Mikels.

The complex has a worthy name and a good start on construction costs. Still to be identified is a long-term funding source to operate and maintain the complex. We urge Ventura County to follow through on the vision that Perren and others have championed. When the county’s young people have the support and programs they need, everyone benefits.