DATE: September 6, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: First Amendment to Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a First Amendment to an Agreement with the Board and State Community Corrections for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, to extend the term of the existing Agreement by six months from December 31, 2022 to June 30, 2023, with no change to the compensation maximum ($3,136,875).
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will amend the Agreement with the Board and State Community Corrections (BSCC) to extend the term of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Agreement by six months, to provide the Probation Department additional time to expend awarded grant funds. This Agreement provides reentry case management and supportive services for individuals, male or female, ages 18-30 years of age, affiliated or previously affiliated with a gang having a medium or high risk to reoffend who are incarcerated in the Fresno County Jail. The goal of the JAG program is to reduce gang activity after release from custody and increase public safety. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant period will end December 31, 2022, and the Probation Department will have to forfeit the remaining balance of funds not incumbered as of September 30, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of this action will allow the Probation Department an additional six months to expend awarded grant funds.
DISCUSSION:
On November 19, 2019, the Board authorized the execution of the retroactive Grant Agreement with the BSCC for the competitive funding awarded to the Probation Department through the JAG Program. Funding has enabled the Probation Department to contract reentry case management and supportive services to facilitate successful reentry into the community for the targeted population both pre and post-release from custody. The Agreement also includes funding for one Deputy Probation Officer (DPO) position to supervise the participants in the Program and collaborate with and monitor contractors in addressing the participants’ needs and ensuring their progress over the course of the grant term.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the ongoing Coronavirus Disease pandemic to be of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant the issuance of an emergency declaration for all states, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia. The United States has had the largest number of confirmed cases, of which the state of California has had the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued a stay-at-home order for all residents of the state, that allowed residents to leave their homes only for essential purposes. The ensuing months and now years saw many COVID-19 Initiatives, Directives, and Emergency Orders issued, extended, and rescinded on county, state, national, and international levels in an effort to protect the population from the fast spreading, highly contagious virus and its variants. During this time, many County offices and community-based organizations and partners had restricted or severely limited outside entry into their buildings, and put safety protocols in place which impacted the JAG Program’s ability to provide participants services funded by the grant.
In February 2022, BSCC announced its formal approval to offer a six-month, no cost extension, for the JAG Grant. The Probation Department submitted a tentative request for extension to the BSCC, pending the direction of the JAG Steering Committee and your Board’s approval. In June 2022, the BSCC sent out the amendment for approval. The JAG Steering Committee was convened July 19, 2022, and directed the Probation Department to submit the proposed extension to your Board for approval.
Approval of the recommended action will increase the length of time available to Probation to expend these grant funds and provide services to the participants from September 30, 2022, to March 31, 2023, change the end date from December 31, 2022, to June 30, 2023, and modify various sections of the Agreement to reflect the revised due dates for reports and invoices.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #9, November 19, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with the Clerk - Amendment to Agreement with the BSCC
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck