Wendelyn Julien, the CEO of Los Angeles County’s Court-Appointed Special Advocates program, is stepping down from her position at the end of the month after she was chosen to lead a new local office that will oversee the Probation Department.
Last week, Julien was approved by the Board of Supervisors as the executive director of the new Probation Oversight Commission, a civilian body created to steer the county agency through a series of sweeping reforms.
“At this moment, this is a special opportunity to take part in changing what public safety looks like and to think about justice as about promoting healing and rehabilitation,” Julien said.
Created by the board last year, the civilian-led Probation Oversight Commission will investigate issues with the Los Angeles County Probation Department. The commission has the authority to subpoena newly appointed Chief Probation Officer Adolfo Gonzales and is charged with implementing reforms laid out in the Youth Justice Reimagined plan that was endorsed by the board. The plan calls for the county to close its juvenile halls and camps in favor of “safe and secure healing centers” and to create a new youth development department.
A former foster and adoptive parent, Julien has headed Los Angeles County’s CASA program since 2016. According to a recent report, the L.A. CASA program had more than 1,000 trained volunteers in 2019 that provided support and advocacy for 1,238 foster youth in 2019.
Julien will start her new job as executive director of the Probation Oversight Committee on Feb. 1. The salary range for Julien’s new position is $142,215 to $215,320.
