People v. Carlos J. (In re Carlos J.)

Xavier Becerra, Attorneys General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Jeffrey M. Laurence, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Eric D. Share and Huy T. Luong, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

SIMONS, Acting P.J.

*3 Welfare and Institutions Code section 734 1 provides that "No ward of the juvenile court shall be committed to the [Department of Juvenile Facilities (DJF) ] unless the judge of the court is fully satisfied that the mental and physical condition and qualifications of the ward are such as to render it probable that he will be benefited by the reformatory educational *4 discipline or other treatment provided by the [DJF]." 2 Appellant Carlos J. (appellant), *162 born September 2001, appeals from the juvenile court's order committing him to the DJF. Because there is no specific information in the record regarding the programs at the DJF, we hold that no substantial evidence supports the juvenile court's finding of probable benefit from the commitment. Consequently, we reverse the commitment and remand for a new disposition hearing.

BACKGROUND

In January 2017, the Sonoma County District Attorney filed a petition under section 602,…