AB 505 Summary

• Authorizes the Office of Youth and Community Restoration ombudsperson to access juvenile facilities at any time without prior notice and to review all juvenile facility records, meet privately with youth and staff, and document interactions through notes, audio, video, or photographs.

• Expands juvenile court judges' inspection requirements to include lockups, camps, ranches, and secure youth treatment facilities (previously limited to jails and juvenile halls).

• Grants personnel from the Office of Youth and Community Restoration access to confidential juvenile case files to carry out their duties, with access governed by existing juvenile confidentiality laws.

• Requires the ombudsperson's annual reports to include recommendations for improving the juvenile justice system and mandates the office publish county plan acceptance dates on its website.

• Imposes state-mandated local program requiring local agencies to provide access to records and facilities for the ombudsperson's oversight activities.