In September 2002, your Board executed an Agreement with the Service League of San Mateo County to provide a continuum of inmate services in an amount not-to-exceed $575,261, funded through the Inmate Welfare Fund Committee. The Service League's ability to provide an optimum level of services to inmates at a reasonable cost is largely due to a dedicated staff and to the recruitment and utilization of hundreds of volunteers and community professionals. The Service League works in close cooperation with other organizations and agencies in the County to expand the number of resources available to inmates and their families. A significant portion of the cost for providing inmate services is subsidized by public donations and fund-raising carried out by Service League sponsors.
The Service League facilitates the FATHERS [Fathers As Teachers: Helping Encouraging Reading Supporting] Literacy Program. The objectives of the Program are to interrupt the cycles of both incarceration and poor literacy, by making male inmates aware of their responsibility as fathers and as father figures to break both cycles.
Another essential service provided by the Service League is mandated inmate library services and related library materials in the Maguire Correctional Facility [MCF], Women Correctional Facility [WCC] and Women's Honor Camp [WHC]. In 2001, the Service League took the place of a previous contractor (Peninsula Library Services) who was unable to fulfill the terms of their contract. |
In Fiscal 2002-03, the Inmate Welfare Fund Committee contracted with the Service League of San Mateo County for inmate services in an amount not-to-exceed $575,261. The new proposed Agreement period is July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004 for an amount not-to-exceed $509,261. This amount is reduced by $66,000, or 8.85% from last year's contract. The decrease is primarily due to the elimination of conflict management classes and the Father's & Families Literacy Program which was administered at the Men's Honor Camp, La Honda. These services will continue at MCF and WCC with funding secured from other resources.
The Service League provides services to inmates such as jail orientation, counseling, referrals, jury clothing, childcare, travel fare for released inmates, Spanish language services, various denominational chaplaincy services, etc. The Services League also provides indirect services. Those services consists of training and guidance for volunteers who interact with inmates and handle their requests as well as build supportive networks with departments, agencies, and substance abuse treatment programs.
The County has contracted with the Service League as far back as 1989. The Service League has a unique ability to provide limitless services to inmates by utilizing volunteers and community professionals at a reasonable cost. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the County to waive the Request for Proposals process and to continue contracting with the Service League on the basis of being a sole source provider in the County of San Mateo.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Resolution and Agreement as to form. |
The proposed Agreement for an amount not-to-exceed $509,261 will be funded through the Inmate Welfare Fund for the 2003-04 Fiscal Year. There is a net (savings or revenue) of $66,000 over the previous costs under the Service League contracts. Therefore, there is no impact upon the County's General Fund. |
