Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: John L. Maltbie, County Manager
Subject: Agreement for Public Safety Realignment / Reentry Program Evaluation
RECOMMENDATION: title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with RTI International to conduct an evaluation of programs supporting AB 109 Public Safety Realignment and Unified Reentry service implementation for the term of April 1, 2018 through November 30, 2018, in an amount not to exceed $120,000.
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BACKGROUND:
California’s Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011 and other subsequent legislation shifted jurisdiction of and funding for supervision and incarceration of specified low level felony offenders from state to local control. The purpose of the legislation was to address court mandates requiring the reduction of overcrowded conditions in California prisons. The legislation did so by altering both sentencing and post-prison supervision for lower level offenders. In addition, realignment also tasked county probation departments with the supervision of a specified population of inmates discharged from state prison whose commitment offense was non-violent and non-serious. Finally, parolees, excluding those serving life terms who violate the terms of their parole, serve their parole revocations in county jail. To conform with this new legislation, the County created the AB 109 program.
San Mateo County has also implemented a Unified Reentry (UR) program. In January 2010, the County was one of 14 jurisdictions to receive a Second Chance grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to launch an adult reentry program. As a result, the Achieve 180 (A 180) program was developed to bridge the fragmentation between in-custody and post-custody programs through risk assessments, case management plans, and other services.
In July 2014, the County began funding a comprehensive reentry system through the creation of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of the Sheriff, Probation, Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health, and Correctional Health, that serves all inmates at high and moderate risk to recidivate, regardless of AB109 status, which incorporated A 180 best practices.
DISCUSSION:
AB 109 is perhaps the biggest change in California’s criminal justice system in over a century. By transferring responsibility for the management and supervision of these populations to counties, the state sought to lower the recidivism rate as it is believed that counties are better able to provide them with the treatment and resources they need to address underlying criminogenic behavior. The County has leveraged its resources through multidisciplinary teams that assess and determine what each offender needs in order to be most successful in their reentry process.
State funding for public safety realignment implementation is derived from Vehicle License Fees and a portion of the state sales tax. In addition to state funding, the County provides funding from the General Fund for the Unified Reentry population. The cost of the programs is currently exceeding revenue by $1.5 million annually. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was released to obtain services that maximize the quality of services while also maximizing value to the County. Four vendors replied to the RFP and RTI was selected by the review panel because of their experience with the Criminal Justice System, Reentry Programs, and Behavioral Health.
The criminal justice partners will contract with RTI to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of interventions intended to reduce recidivism and increase positive community-based outcomes. The evaluation will review multiple criminal justice and human service programs and interventions that make up the continuum of the reentry system. The final report from this evaluation will assess how effective these programs are at achieving their outcomes; how well they are implemented; and how cost-effective the programs are.
After the consultant’s work is complete, which we expect will be late fall, the County Manager will work with the departments involved in preparing a plan to implement recommendations and balance this budget, and will bring to your Board on any recommendations that require your action.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
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Description |
Target |
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A final evaluation report will be developed and delivered by: |
11-30-2018 |
The resolution has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
This agreement will contribute to the Shared Vision 2025 of a Collaborative Community by ensuring that county services are operated efficiently and effectively.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for these services will come from AB 109 Public Safety Realignment funds allocated towards evaluation. The total cost of this agreement is $120,000 and has been included in the FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget and FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget.