Restorative justice program.

Existing law establishes specified rights for victims and witnesses of crimes, including to be notified or informed regarding specified court proceedings and inmate placement or parole eligibility. Existing law requires the Attorney General to, by June 1, 2025, create and distribute a "Victim Protections and Resources" card, which contains information about victim rights and resources, as specified. This bill would give a victim the right to be notified of the availability of community-based restorative justice programs and processes available to them, including programs serving their community, county, county jails, juvenile detention facilities, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as specified. The bill would additionally require the Attorney General to include this information in the "Victim Protections and Resources" card, as specified. Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge a minor or nonminor to be a dependent or ward of the court under certain circumstances. Existing law requires the probation officer to inform the victim of a crime in a juvenile proceeding of the final disposition of the case and of any victim-offender conferencing program or victim impact class available in the county. This bill would remove the requirement that the victim be notified of a victim-offender conferencing program, but would require the victim to be notified of the availability of community-based restorative justice programs and processes available to them. By increasing the duties of probation officers, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.