Special Notice / Hearing: None
Vote Required: 4/5ths
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Adam Ely, Deputy County Executive
Subject: Acceptance of Grant to Reduce the Criminalization of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Executive Officer, or designee, to accept and implement the grant award from the California Department of State Hospitals in an amount not to exceed $500,000 to form and facilitate a workgroup to reduce arrest and incarceration of individuals with serious mental illness.
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BACKGROUND:
The California 2022 Budget Act included substantial annual funding for the Department of State Hospitals to implement comprehensive solutions to provide timely access to care for individuals found incompetent to stand trial on felony charges. This annual funding including support for grant programs designed to reduce arrest and incarceration of individuals with serious mental illness and concurrent reduction of individuals who are determined to be incompetent to state trial.
DISCUSSION:
The County is committed to collaboration among criminal justice and health partners to develop strategies and seek solution that both reduce the criminalization of individuals with serious mental illnesses and reduce the number of individuals who are determined to be incompetent to stand trial on felony criminal charges. County criminal justice and health partners, including but not limited to representatives from the County Superior Court, the District Attorney’s Office, the Private Defender Panel, the Sheriff’s Office, Probation, Health, and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, meet and collaborate regularly to coordinate and improve services and outcomes for persons involved with the justice system including those with serious mental illness.
The County has applied for and received a grant award of $500,000 ($100,000 annually for five years) from the California Department of State Hospitals to coordinate, participate in, and facilitate a local collaborative community stakeholder workgroup, focused on the reduction of the number of individuals with serious mental illness arrested, incarcerated, and that may sometimes found incompetent to stand trial on felony criminal charges. This collaboration includes the criminal justice and health partners listed above.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the draft grant agreement and resolution as to form.
EQUITY IMPACT:
Individuals involved in the justice system with serious mental illness are some of the most vulnerable and underrepresented in our community. Approval of the resolution will support collaboration by criminal justice and health partners to improve the provision of care and outcomes for these individuals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The grant funds will provide $100,000 annually for five years to the County. The funds will be recognized as unanticipated revenue and an Appropriation Transfer Request will be submitted on or before the initial distribution from the State. There is no impact to the General Fund.