REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 9, 2021
FROM
MICHELLE SCRAY BROWN, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Department
SUBJECT
Title
Senate Bill 823 - Realignment of the Division of Juvenile Justice
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the Division of Juvenile Justice Realignment Plan as submitted by the County of San Bernardino’s Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council Executive Subcommittee pursuant to Senate Bill 823, as identified in Attachment A.
2. Authorize the addition of twelve (12) new positions, as identified in Attachment B, pending completion of classification review by the Human Resources Department.
3. Approve the Capital Improvement Project (CIP 21-204) in the amount of $222,700 for improvements to Probation’s High Desert Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center to comply with Senate Bill 823.
4. Approve appropriation and revenue adjustments to fund CIP 21-204 and authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments for the Project, as detailed in the Financial Impact section. (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Julie Hovis Francis, Deputy Chief Probation Officer, 387-5786)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The cost of the CIP will be funded by the use of Probation’s one-time Youth Offender Block Grant reserves. The $1.2 million cost of the 12 new positions, as identified in Attachment B, will be funded within Probation’s existing budget allocation for 2020-21. Funding for the State’s Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Realignment Plan will be allocated through the Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant in the Governor’s annual budget to support the on-going cost of the program, estimated to be $3.6 million in 2021-22, $10.6 million in 2022-23, and $17.5 million in 2023-24. The following adjustments to Probation’s and the CIP 2020-21 budgets are requested:
|
Fund Center |
WBSE |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
4810001000 |
|
55305030 |
Operating Transfers Out |
Increase |
$222,700 |
|
4810001000 |
|
40458711 |
Realignment 2011 Revenue |
Increase |
$222,700 |
|
7700003100 |
10.10.1170 |
54304030 |
Structure & Improvements |
Increase |
$222,700 |
|
7700003100 |
10.10.1170 |
40909975 |
Operating Transfers Out |
Increase |
$222,700 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Senate Bill 823 (SB 823) transferred responsibility for managing all youthful offenders from the State’s DJJ to local jurisdiction effective July 1, 2021, repealing the previous legislation moving the DJJ into the California Health and Human Services Agency as the Department of Youth and Community Restoration.
SB 823 establishes a Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant program to provide county-based custody, care, and supervision of youth who are currently under the jurisdiction of the DJJ or who would have otherwise been eligible for commitment to the DJJ. SB 823 proposes ongoing State funding allocations to the County in 2021-22 $3,572,323; 2022-23 $10,582,121; and 2023-24 $17,531,380.
The proposed distribution to counties is based on the following:
§ 30% of the allocation is based on the average number of wards committed to the DJJ, as of December 31, 2018, June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2019;
§ 50% of the allocation is based on the distribution of juveniles adjudicated for certain violent and serious felony crime categories per 2018 Juvenile Court and Probation Statistical System data, updated annually based on the most recently available data; and
§ 20% of the allocation is based on the distribution of all individuals between 10 and 17 years of age, inclusive, from the preceding calendar year.
SB 823 requires local county entities to establish a multi-agency Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council Executive Subcommittee chaired by the Chief Probation Officer, with at least one representative from the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Department of Social Services, Department of Mental Health, County Office of Education or School District, the Superior Court of California, and three community members. The bill further requires development of an operational plan that provides appropriate rehabilitation and supervision services for the population to meet the needs of youth by providing and implementing public health approaches to support positive youth development, building the capacity of a continuum of community based approaches, and reducing crime by youth.
Probation has identified its High Desert Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center, located in Apple Valley, as the most suitable facility to meet the initial program requirements. Items required include the replacement of tempered shower water to a hot and cold option, resurfacing of millwork, flooring replacement and modifications to cabinets. The requested CIP is required to ensure compliance with initial program requirements.
Probation is seeking approval of the these items at this time, rather than submitting them as part of the 2021-22 Budget, as the County will assume responsibility for offenders under DJJ supervision starting July 1, 2021. The operational plan, referenced in Attachment A, is the blueprint for services to be provided. Due to the lengthy recruitment and background process, Probation is requesting approval of Recommendation No. 2 to add the following 12 positions in order to have them filled by July 1, 2021:
• Clinical Therapist I (4 FTE)
• Clinical Therapist II (1 FTE)
• Alcohol and Drug Counselor (1 FTE)
• Social Worker II (1 FTE)
• Correctional Nurse II (4 FTE)
• Licensed Vocational Nurse II - Corrections (1 FTE)
Additionally, approval of Recommendation No. 3, will allow sufficient time to complete the CIP by July 1, 2021.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Jamie Ryan, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 22, 2021; Human Resources Department (John Wood, Human Resources, 387,6080) on January 26, 2021; Projects Management Division (Jennifer Acosta, Assistant Director, 387-5380) on January 28, 2021; Auditor-Controller/Treasure/Tax Collector (Erika Gomez, Accounting Manager, 382-3196) on January 28, 2021; Finance (Carolina Mendoza, Administrative Analyst, 387-0294) on January 26, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Kelly Welty, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 27, 2021.