With a facility capacity of 300 beds, the team, which leads the Alameda Juvenile Justice Center, is proud to report that their population now hovers between just 42 and 60 youth. That decline isn’t by accident. It’s intentional, and the result of bold changes, collaborative systems, and an embrace of innovative technology solutions.

For youth who do enter the Center, the focus is about rehabilitation, education, accountability, and skill-building, and technology is proving to be a powerful tool in that mission.

Creating Meaningful Engagement and Empowerment

Before fully adopting Orijin, Alameda County’s juvenile facilities were searching for better ways to engage youth, reduce tension, and support reentry. Tablets had been introduced in 2018, yet without structure or integration into behavior management, their impact was limited. Staff faced ongoing issues like shared phones and slow paper-based grievance systems. Orijin offered a unified, effective solution to meet these needs.

Orijin has become much more than a digital learning tool; it’s a gateway to growth. Youth engage with GED prep, OSHA certification training, soft skills modules, and evidence-based behavioral programs, all at their own pace, with dignity and privacy.

“Being able to use the tablet alone in your room lets youth engage without fear of judgment,” said Superintendent Albert Bañuelos. “It creates a sense of normalcy and a safe space to focus on their own goals.” 

Incentives Engine: Driving Engagement, Motivation, and Growth

At the core of Alameda’s approach is Orijin’s Incentives Engine—an integrated system designed to reinforce positive behavior and support rehabilitation. By linking access to tools like education, entertainment, and communication with constructive behavior and active program participation, the platform helps youth stay focused, build accountability, and make steady progress toward their goals.

“Access is earned,” explained John Ebrahimi, Superintendent of Detention for Alameda County Probation. “If a youth is consistently demonstrating pro-social behavior—respecting staff, participating in programming, making positive choices—they unlock more features on the tablet.”

By integrating Alameda’s behavior management system with Orijin, program staff easily manage incentives, which may include longer phone call hours, access to additional media, and other digital privileges. On the flip side, violations of zero-tolerance rules—such as violence or contraband—result in suspended access. The impact of these consequences is real. The result? A culture shift in the facility and improved safety.

“When youth feel safe, motivated, and supported, they behave differently,” Ebrahimi said. “The tablet becomes a powerful incentive for positive change.” 

Communication That Builds Connections, Improves Safety

A standout benefit of Orijin’s platform has been the introduction of voice calls through tablets. Voice calls offer a modern alternative to traditional copper-wire telephones, enabling learners to initiate calls directly from their Orijin tablets. Administrators can efficiently manage voice calls, facilitating contact management, call monitoring, call history review, access to call recordings, and transcripts. 

In the past, 12 to 14 youth in a unit at Alameda shared just two landline wall phones—a setup that often led to conflict and even violence. With individual tablets, that tension has been significantly reduced. “Since implementing voice calls through the tablets, we’ve seen a major reduction in tension and even violence in the living units,” Bañuelos noted. “The ability to talk privately with family, on their own time, gives youth a stronger connection to the outside world—and more motivation to return to it.”

“Since implementing voice calls through the tablets, we’ve seen a major reduction in tension and even violence in the living units,” Bañuelos noted. “The ability to talk privately with family, on their own time, gives youth a stronger connection to the outside world—and more motivation to return to it.”

— Superintendent Albert Bañuelos

Youth are embracing this powerful connection. As of May 2025, Alameda youth have used over 648,000 minutes of tablet-based voice calls. This level of usage underscores just how essential communication has become for youth—not just for behavior incentives, but for emotional stability, motivation, and reentry success.

Reentry Planning from Day One

For Rakeya Cherry-Hill, Reentry Services Coordinator, preparing youth for life after detention is just as important as what happens inside the facility. That includes using the Orijin tablets to complete case planning assignments, access cognitive behavioral therapy, and engage with evidence-based interventions that support rehabilitation and reentry.

“We’re not just offering programming—we’re integrating it into their individual case plans,” Cherry-Hill said. “Youth are actively engaging in their own rehabilitation process.”

She also highlighted a promising innovation: the facility is working with the local education department to award school credit for tablet-based programming. That ensures learning that happens inside doesn’t get left behind when youth return to the community.

A River, Not a Reservoir: Lessons for Other Youth Services Leaders

What advice do Alameda’s leaders have for other administrators and educators in corrections?

“Don’t reinvent the wheel,” said Ebrahimi. “Visit a facility that’s already doing this and see how the technology is integrated into daily operations—from behavior systems to reentry support.”

Bañuelos added, “Once staff see the value—how youth are calmer, more focused, more motivated—it aligns naturally with the work they’re already doing. We’re not here to be a reservoir of information. We want to be a river—sharing what we’ve learned with others.”

That spirit of collaboration and growth is exactly what’s fueling Alameda’s success. They’ve transformed into a forward-thinking, youth-centered ecosystem, and technology—from education to communication, powered by Orijin, is at the heart of that transformation.

Want to hear directly from the leaders behind this transformation? Listen to the full episode of the Second Chances at Work podcast featuring Alameda County’s leadership team.