COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Probation Department

DATE:

3/29/04

BOARD MEETING DATE:

4/20/04

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Loren Buddress, Chief Probation Officer

SUBJECT:

Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Application for Approval for San Mateo County's Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Plan Modification, and adopting related assurances pertaining to Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Funds

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution providing statutorily required assurances that the Board of Supervisors and the San Mateo County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council has reviewed and approved the County's Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Plan Modification, that the County will adhere to the requirements of the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act and Board of Correction regulations regarding submission of the Plan Modification, that the Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Plan Modification was developed, reviewed, and provided to the Board of Corrections in the required format not later than May 1, 2003, that the County will adhere to the requirements of the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) regarding expenditure of JJCPA funds and submission of required reports, and authorizing the Chief Probation Officer to submit and /or sign the Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice plan Modification to the Board of Corrections for approval and to execute the approved Plan Modification.

Background

In 2000, a State appropriation in the amount of $2.5 million was allotted to San Mateo County for the implementation of a Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice plan (CMJJP.) The plan was developed by the County's Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council with the Chief Probation Officer as Chair. The plan was submitted to the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Corrections and approved. The funds were used to target gaps in the County's umbrella of juvenile services.

A fourth year allotment of Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds has been received by the County in the amount of $2,009,028, which is a 16% reduction from last year's allocation. To prepare the CMJJP Modification, which will cause the release of funds, the County's Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council has met, and subsequently approved a modified plan for FY 04/05 and it is now before the Board for approval. All programs were reviewed in light of JJCPA fund reductions and it was decided, with generous compliance of the County Manager, that the Afterschool Homework Center's allocation would not be requested so those funds could support the remaining programs by preventing drastic service cuts. The following programs continued under JJCPA funding:

· Juvenile Assessment and Referral Center

· Youth and Family Resource Center

· Expansion of Preventing Repeat Offender Program

· Intensive In-Home Intervention Program

· Court and Community School Counseling Program

· Literacy and Numeracy Instruction and Learning Program

County Outcome Based Management information and a report submitted to the Board of Corrections indicates the following highlights from the data collected. During the fiscal year 2002-2003, 2000 plus program participants were served. Specific program high lights follow:

· Court and Community School Counseling has a school attendance rate of 94%. Program participants have a very low arrest rate (23%) and incarceration rate (17%) as opposed to the comparison group that had rates in the 90th percentile.

· Intensive In-home Intervention, 93% of these very troubled youth complete do not commit new law violations and 92% remain in the family home.

· Juvenile Assessment and Referral Center, 50% percent of all detainees assessed are released prior to arraignment. Only 20% suffer new arrests as opposed to the comparison group with a 53% rate.

· Literacy and Numeracy program works with students not at or above grade level. At program completion participants showed a significant improvement on their literacy and numeracy test scores. In addition the program reports that initially on the High School Exit exams only 6% of the students were passing the literacy portion. Current testing shows a pass rate of 83%.

· Preventing Repeat Offender Program, North reports that during program attendance they have an 89% school attendance rate, 96% were not placed out-side the home and 85% did not commit new law violations.

· Youth and Family Resource Center data indicates 98% were not placed outside the home and 91% did not commit new law violations. Participants attended school on 89% of school days.

Discussion

Due to the reduction in funding, it will be necessary to modify program budgets. However, a broad encumbrance policy by the State Department of Finance allows has allowed that a significant portion of the rollback can be off set by program savings from the current fiscal year. In addition, the funds made available by the deletion of the Afterschool Homework Centers provides significant funding to support the remaining programs. The remaining balance can be cover by service contract renegotiations and some service and supplies reductions.

The third year of operation has shown a marked stability in all program operations. Collected data is beginning to show the value of these seven programs in reducing crime, increasing educational levels, and in impacting families and individuals in our communities. The introduction of an automated data collection system in July of this year will greatly enhance the tracking of program data and permit timely program adjustments.

The Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Plan and its programs have become an integral part of juvenile justice services in this County and should be maintained for the benefit of our "at-risk" youth, and the safety and security of the communities in San Mateo County.

Vision Alignment

In keeping with the County's Shared Vision 2010, the Comprehensive Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Plan Modification supports the following goals:

· Goal 6, Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods

· Goal 7, Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors

· Goal 8, Help vulnerable people --...at-risk youth and others - achieve a better quality of life.

· Goal 22, County and local governments effectively communicate, collaborate and develop strategic approaches to issues affecting the entire county

The Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Plan Modification is an extensive collaboration of social service, educational and community based organizations within the County. The focus of the Coordinating Council and the plan is to provide programs that fill service gaps in the targeted neighborhoods most needing the services. The ultimate goal of these service agencies is that at-risk youth just entering the juvenile justice system will be able to make significant changes to their way of life to prevent further contact, and develop tools that will enable them to have a better quality of life that continues through their lifetime. The bottom line benefit to all is the reduction in crime and enhancement of public safety.

Fiscal Impact

No net County cost is associated with the review, approval, and submission of the CMJJP Modification.