COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

San Mateo County Probation Department

DATE:

August 9, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 11, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Loren Buddress, Chief Probation Officer

SUBJECT:

Approval of Continued Acceptance of Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Program

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution:

1) Authorizing the Probation Department to continue to apply for, receive and utilize $42,036 federal funds available through the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program administered by the state Corrections Standards Authority;

2) Authorizing matching funds in the amount of $4,671 to comply with the statutes and regulations of the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program; and

3) Authorizing the Chief Probation Officer or his Designee to submit the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant application and sign the Grant Agreement with the Corrections Standards Authority, including any amendments, on behalf of the County of San Mateo.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Provide youth with the opportunity to understand the impact their actions have on others and victims the opportunity to mediate with their perpetrators.

Goal(s): 7, 8, 20 and 22. The Federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Program funding is used to support the Victim Impact Awareness (VIA) Program. This program provides youth who have perpetrated crimes against another the opportunity to understand the impact that their behavior has on others and to mediate with their victims in the spirit of restorative justice. Ultimately, the goal is to have an ongoing impact on the quality of life of our youth and the community through collaboration with County agencies and community-based organizations.

Performance Measure:

Measure

FY 2006-07
Actual

FY 2007-08
Target

Percentage of VIA program graduates who do not recidivate (commit a new offense where a victim is involved) within the grant reporting period.

81%

83%

BACKGROUND:

The Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program (JABG) provides funds to states and units of local government to enhance their efforts to combat serious and violent juvenile crime through accountability-based reforms. Accountability in juvenile justice means assuring that, as a result of their wrongdoing, juvenile offenders face consequences that make them aware of and answerable for the loss, damage, or injury perpetrated upon the victim.

In 2003, the San Mateo County Probation Department first applied for this grant to support the VIA program in an effort to promote victim awareness and active reparation to victims. We have determined that those offenders who complete the VIA program are statistically less likely to recidivate than youth who do not complete the program. This will be the fourth fiscal year we have applied for this grant and acceptance of the grant requires a resolution by the Board of Supervisors.

DISCUSSION:

Youth who have been placed on probation for committing crimes against victims are required to complete a behavioral contract requiring class attendance and participation, compliance with all program rules and dedicated effort toward program completion. The contract helps underscore the importance of making a commitment to change behavior. The VIA program provides ten hours of classroom facilitation over approximately seven weeks covering topics including gang violence, dating violence, property crimes, drunk driving and its victims, drugs and crime, and violent crime robbery and assault. The presentations are made by probation officers, therapists from community based organizations and victims of crime, who share their stories and facilitate discussion of the impact of their behavior on victims and other members of the community. The youth are also referred to the Juvenile Mediation Program to provide them an opportunity to engage in formal restorative justice activities with their victims.

The continued Federal funding provided by the JABG Program covers the cost of Probation’s collaboration with community-based organizations which facilitate group counseling. The grant proposal was submitted to the Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition advisory board for their review, per grant requirement.

FISCAL IMPACT:

To secure the $42,036 Federal funding the County is required to provide matching funds in the amount of $4,671. Grant and matching funds are included in the FY 2007-08 Recommended Budget.