COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

SHERIFF’S OFFICE

DATE:

April 8, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 28, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Sheriff Greg Munks

SUBJECT:

Annual Report on the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund

RECOMMENDATION:

Accept the report on the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund for the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitments: Provide equal access to educational opportunity; and ensuring basic health and safety for all.

Goals 4, 5 and 8: Residents have many educational and training opportunities beyond high school; residents have access to healthcare and preventive care; and help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at risk youth and others - achieve a better quality of life.

The Inmate Welfare Trust Fund provides funding for activities and services to incarcerated inmates so that they continue their education and increase their sense of responsibility to the community. The inmates have access to education, healthcare and training in various activities while incarcerated. The skills learned should help inmates to find gainful employment when they are released back into the community, and thus help avoid recidivism.

BACKGROUND:

The Inmate Welfare Trust Fund has been set up under California Penal Code §4025, which provides that the Sheriff may operate a commissary in the jail, and that profits shall be deposited into an Inmate Welfare Fund. Section 4025 also provides that refund, rebate, or commission received from a telephone company for inmates’ use of telephones shall be deposited into the Inmate Welfare Fund. The fund may only be used primarily for the benefit, education, and welfare of the inmates, and maintenance of Sheriff’s Correctional Facilities, which includes the cost of operating programs to benefit the inmates, including, but not limited to, education, drug and alcohol treatment, welfare, library, accounting, and other programs deemed appropriate by the sheriff. Section 4025 further specifies that an itemized report of disbursements must be submitted annually to the Board of Supervisors. Also included in this report is a summary of income.

DISCUSSION.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, net income was $1,183,361, which represents gross revenue of $2,442,441 less the cost of goods sold of $833,469 and other operating expenses of $425,611. Total disbursements, which includes contracted services, was $1,210,391. The net operating loss for the fiscal year, which represents net income less total disbursements, was $27,029. As a result, beginning fund balance of $828,949 was reduced to $801,920 by year-end.

FISCAL IMPACT.

There is no Net County Cost.