COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Board of Supervisors

DATE:

September 6, 2011

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 13, 2011

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Board President, Carole Groom

SUBJECT:

Appointments to the Community Corrections Partnership and its Executive Committee

RECOMMENDATION:

1.

Appoint the Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee as a member of the Community Corrections Partnership; and

2.

Appoint the Vice Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee as an alternate member of the Community Corrections Partnership; and

3.

Designate the head of the County department of social services as a member of the executive committee of the Community Corrections Partnership.

BACKGROUND:

As part of the California Community Corrections Performance Incentives Act (SB 678) and Criminal Justice Realignment and its funding (AB 117), the State Legislature enacted and amended certain statutes, including Penal Code Sections 1228 through 1233.8 (the “Act”). The Act is intended to provide a framework and sustainable funding for improved, evidence-based probation supervision practices and capacities that should improve public safety outcomes among adult felons who are on probation, thereby reducing recidivism and leaving more funds to be invested in community corrections programs.

Penal Code Section 1230 calls for the community corrections program to be developed and implemented by the probation department advised by a local Community Corrections Partnership (the “CCP”). The statute provides that the CCP is to be chaired by the Chief Probation Officer (“CPO”) and comprised of the following membership: A) The presiding judge of the superior court, or his or her designee; (B) A county supervisor or the chief administrative officer for the county or a designee of the board of supervisors; (C) The district attorney; (D) The public defender; (E) The sheriff; (F) A chief of police; (G) The head of the county department of social services; (H) The head of the county department of mental health; (I) The head of the county department of employment; (J) The head of the county alcohol and substance abuse programs; (K) The head of the county office of education; (L) A representative from a community-based organization; and (M) An individual who represents the interests of victims.

Penal Code Section 1230.1 provides that the CCP is to recommend a local plan to the county board of supervisors for the implementation of the 2011 public safety realignment and that the plan is to be voted on by an executive committee of the CCP before being presented to the board of supervisors for review and approval. The CCP executive committee consists of: (A) the CPO as chair, (B) a chief of police, (C) the sheriff, (D) the District Attorney, (E) the Public Defender, (F) the presiding judge of the superior court, or his or her designee, and (G) one of the following three as designated by the county board of supervisors: i) the head of the County department of social services; ii) the head of the county department of mental health, or iii) the head of the County's alcohol and substance abuse programs.

DISCUSSION:

Penal Code Section 1230 calls for the Board to select as a member of the CCP either one of its members, the County Manager or another designee. It is recommended that the Board select the Chair of its Criminal Justice Committee (“CJC”) as its member of the CCP, with the Vice Chair of the CJC as an alternate. Having the Chair of the CJC as a member of the CCP, with the Vice Chair as an alternate, would serve a dual purpose of assuring that the Board’s representative would have familiarity with the topic even if a calendar conflict prevents the primary representative from attending a CCP meeting.

Penal Code Section 1230.1 calls for the Board to designate a member of the CCP executive committee from among the i) the head of the County department of social services; ii) the head of the county department of mental health, or iii) the head of the County's alcohol and substance abuse programs. The recommendation is to select the head of the County department of social services (i.e., Director of Human Services Agency), Beverly Beasley Johnson, as the designated member of the executive committee.

Appointments to the Community Corrections Partnership and its executive committee contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Collaborative Community by promoting collaboration among and between various county departments.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There are no fiscal impacts to the County General Fund caused by the appointments to the Community Corrections Partnership and its executive committee.