Monterey County Youth Center

The Probation Department's Youth Center is a low-security, coeducational, residential treatment facility located in East Salinas. It is one of only a few secured juvenile treatment centers in the state.
The Youth Center is comprised of three dormitories with a total capacity of 85 residents. Probation staff, Behavioral Health therapists and teachers from the County Office of Education work cooperatively and collaboratively with outside providers in a team approach that works with residents and their parents and/or guardians to understand and address the causation of the residents' delinquent behavior, gang involvement, or drug and alcohol addictions.
The Youth Center's therapeutic environment is designed to work to help residents develop insight into their personal situations, to instill impulse control by improving personal coping mechanisms, and to encourage pro-social attitudes and behaviors.