REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 5, 2021
FROM
ROBERT WICKUM, Chair, Law and Justice Group Administration
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with CorrectiveSolutions Holdings for the Misdemeanor Diversion Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 18-686 with CorrectiveSolutions Holdings to provide a participant-paid, pre-charge, pre-trial and/or post-trial misdemeanor diversion program, exercising the option to extend the term for an additional year through September 30, 2022, for a total contract period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2022.
(Presenter: Robert Wickum, Chair, 387-3760)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of additional discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The program fee is $380, to be paid by each eligible participant. There may also be additional fees charged to the participant for additional services such as drug testing, alcohol monitoring, or supplemental classes. CorrectiveSolutions Holdings (CorrectiveSolutions) will receive $350 of the program fee, and the County will receive $30 as an administrative fee, of which $20 will be set aside by CorrectiveSolutions, on behalf of the County, in an Indigent Offender Fund (IOF).
The assessment of program fees is based on the participant’s ability to pay. The IOF will be used to subsidize payment for participants who have either no ability or a partial ability to pay the program fees. CorrectiveSolutions will administer the IOF, based on criteria established and approved by the Law Justice Group (Group). The Group will oversee the administration of these funds.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County’s misdemeanor diversion program allows certain first-time criminal offenders to complete a tailored education program designed to modify behavior instead of having criminal charges prosecuted in court. The misdemeanor diversion program is approximately four months in length and includes a general community accountability class with a crime-specific education component such as substance abuse, anger management, parenting, or theft/shoplifting. If the eligible offender successfully completes the misdemeanor diversion program, including full payment of victim restitution and fees, the District Attorney agrees to dismiss the charges. If an eligible offender declines the program or fails to complete it, then criminal charges will be prosecuted. Since the misdemeanor diversion program’s inception, the percentage of enrollees who have completed the program is approximately 81%, with over 4,758 individuals successfully benefiting from this option. The Group recommends a one-year contract extension with CorrectiveSolutions, which will allow staff time to implement a request for proposals (RFP) seeking qualified service providers to continue the program on an ongoing basis.
This item is being presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) at this time, as this is the first date available for presentation following the required administrative and legal reviews. Board approval at this time will not have any operational impact as CorrectiveSolutions has continued to provide the services.
PROCUREMENT
On October 6, 2015 (Item No. 36), the Board approved a contract with CorrectiveSolutions to institute a participant-paid, pre-charge, pre-trial and/or post-trial misdemeanor diversion program for the period of October 7, 2015 through September 30, 2018. On May 25, 2018, RFP No. CAO118-CAO4-2976 was released and CorrectiveSolutions was evaluated as the best value for provision of services. On September 11, 2018 (Item No. 33), the Board approved Contract No. 18-686 with CorrectiveSolutions for the period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2021, with the option of two one-year extensions.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Katherine Hardy, County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 22, 2021; Finance (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on September 21, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on September 22, 2021.