The Juvenile Unit uses a unique combination of enforcement and prevention to assist youth and their families in Redwood City.

 

Juvenile Detective Carmine Galotta and Juvenile Counselor Manuel Velarde work closely with agencies such as Child Protective Services (CPS), County Mental Health and the staff at Redwood City schools to offer an alternative to booking delinquent youths into the Hillcrest facility to provide formal and informal counseling services to juveniles and their custodial parents.

 

In an average year, Detective Galotta and Juvenile Counselor Velarde make more than 1,200 separate contacts with youth and families, including approximately 350 referrals for CPS cases and approximately 150 reports of missing or runaway juveniles. 

 

The Unit coordinates a wide variety of counseling and early intervention services, including anger management and parenting classes, as well as drug and alcohol abuse counseling.

 

Additionally, the Unit coordinates the Tattoo Removal Program for former gang members.  They also work closely with the Police Activities League (PAL) to increase opportunities for troubled youth to explore recreation as an alternative to gang involvement and delinquency.