Gina Peralta

Gina Peralta has extensive experience working with youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system. Prior working at the BI, Gina served as an advocate for youth involved in the delinquency and dependency systems in Los Angeles. As an undergraduate at the University of California at Santa Cruz, she interned with the Santa Cruz County Probation Department. Gina was hired as a Deputy Probation Officer in 1999 - just as the department began its detention reform efforts with the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) through the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Gina has worked in the Intake Unit, Placement Prevention Services and the Adult Division overseeing the New Direction Program which aims to prevent children of incarcerated parents from entering the juvenile justice system. In 2006, Gina co-authored Santa Cruz County’s Disproportionate Minority Contact-Technical Assistance Project (DMC-TAP) grant funded by the Corrections Standards Authority. After receiving the funding, Gina played a key role in ensuring that all levels of probation staff were involved in the department’s DMC reduction efforts.

Today, Gina is a Site Manager overseeing the DMC reduction efforts in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Fresno, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties in California. She is also working with Clark County, Nevada. Gina works closely with community and system stakeholders to ensure all youth who become involved in the juvenile justice system are treated fairly and appropriately. She has trained over 1000 probation staff on effective strategies to reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system.

Gina has a Master’s in Social Welfare from University of California at Los Angeles, with a concentration in social work with organizations, communities and policy settings. She currently resides in Oakland with her son, Isaiah.

Phone: 415-321-4100 x104
Fax: 415-321-4140
Email: gperalta@burnsinstitute.org