COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

San Mateo County Probation Department

DATE:

5/1/06

BOARD MEETING DATE:

5/23/06

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Loren Buddress, Chief Probation Officer

SUBJECT:

Application for San Mateo County’s Comprehensive Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Plan Modification

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution:

1. Authorizing the submission of the application for San Mateo County’s Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Plan Modification

2. Authorizing the Chief Probation Officer to submit and/or sign the Plan Modification and execute the approved Plan; and

3. Making the necessary assurances pertaining to Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Funds.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitments: Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and provide Responsive, Effective, and Collaborative Government.

Goals: 6,7,8,and 22. State Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) funding is used to support six delinquency prevention programs that involve collaborations with County agencies and community-based organizations. These programs maintain public safety, help at-risk youth to grow up in healthy and safe homes and neighborhoods, and involve effective collaborations and strategic approaches to public safety issues in the County.

The six programs target at risk-youth by providing the following types of services:

- Accelerated Juvenile assessment and program referral

- Preventing Repeat Offender (PROP) model services to improve cognitive skills

- Multi-agency intervention to prevent out-of-home placement

- Individual counseling in the school setting

- Mentoring to improve grade level performance

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2004-05
Actual

FY 2005-06
Projected

Diversion youth-no new law violations with/in 6 months after

68%

73%

PROP participants-no new law violations while in program

65%

70%

PROP school attendance rate

93%

95%

BACKGROUND:

In 2000, a State appropriation in the amount of $2.5 million was allocated to San Mateo County for the implementation of a Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Plan (CMJJP) to address gaps in the County’s umbrella of services to at risk youth. The plan was developed by the County’s Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, of which the Chief Probation Officer serves as Chair.

The original Plan incorporated eight programs, including: Court and Community School Counseling, In-Home Intensive Intervention Program, Juvenile Assessment and Referral Center, Literacy/Numeracy Instruction and Learning Program, Repeat Offender Program Expansion, Youth and Family Resource Center, After School Homework Center, and the Community Weekend Work Program.

The State reduced funding in FY 02/03 and FY 04/05, requiring substantive modifications that eliminated the Weekend Work Expansion Program and the JJCPA-funded After School Homework Centers. The JJCPA funding allocation for FY 05/06, allowed the six remaining programs to remain intact for that fiscal year.

DISCUSSION:

In order to obtain continued funding, the Corrections Standards Authority (CSA) requires the submission of an annual application of the Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Plan, approved by the JJCPA Council, by May 1, 2006. Therefore, the plan has already been approved and submitted.

The FY 2006/07 JJCPA funding amount is $1,965,610, representing a flat line allocation. With interest earned and salary savings, the County is able to continue all six current programs. The JJCPA Coordinating Council, at its annual meeting, after review of program fiscal data, shifted $100,000 of the anticipated funding to the Literacy/Numeracy programs. All programs will remain in full operation and effectiveness. This resolution adopts JJCPA funding assurances and authorizes the Chief Probation Officer to submit and execute the approved Plan.

The Comprehensive Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Plan and its programs are an integral part of juvenile justice services in San Mateo County and benefit at-risk youth, and the safety and security of the communities in San Mateo County. Should funding cease after fiscal year 06/07, the impact would be devastating. Important prevention services would no longer be available, resulting in substantially greater expense to the County for later interventions, costly out-of-home placements, and increasing the demand for the use of expensive, traditional approaches such as arrest and detention.

County Counsel has reviewed the resolution as to form.

FISCAL IMPACT:

As the programs are supported by state funding, there is no County Cost associated with the review, approval, and submission of the Comprehensive Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Plan Modification.