DATE: October 8, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Probation Department Salary Resolution Amendment
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2019-20 appropriations in the Local Community Corrections Org 3436 in the amount of $2,029,863 (4/5 vote);
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2019-20 appropriations and estimated revenues in Probation Org 3430 in the amount of $2,029,863 (4/5 vote); and
3. Approve Amendment to the Salary Resolution adding the following positions: one Probation Services Manager, three Deputy Probation Officers, ten Probation Technicians, and one Office Assistant to Probation Org 3430 effective October 21, 2019 as reflected in Appendix “F”.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions as all positions included in the recommended actions are funded with Public Safety Realignment Act (Assembly Bill 109) revenue. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Probation Department to expand their current Pretrial Program. The expansion of the Pretrial Program would be a pilot expansion with the goal of operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to monitor the outcomes associated with increasing the number of pretrial risk assessments to all individuals detained in the Fresno County Jail System as allowed by local policy and law. The recommended budget resolutions provide the necessary appropriations and estimated revenue for the positions and associated costs for FY 2019-20. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If your Board were to not approve the recommended actions, the Probation Department’s positions will remain unchanged and a pilot expansion of the Pretrial Program will not occur.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions; the positions and associated costs are fully offset with Assembly Bill 109 funds. The recommended budget resolutions will provide the necessary appropriations and estimated revenue for the positions and associated costs for FY 2019-20.
DISCUSSION:
On September 9, 2019, the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) approved the pilot expansion of Probation’s Pretrial Program for FY 2019-20 to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to increase the number of pretrial risk assessments to all individuals detained in the Fresno County Jail System as allowed by local policy and law. The initial CCP Plan included the formation of a Pretrial Program to help jail overcrowding by providing alternatives to incarceration.
The Pretrial Program operates by gathering information on a defendant and putting that information into a pretrial risk assessment report. The assessment will show the risk that each defendant poses to the community including the risk of failing to appear for a court hearing. After each assessment is completed, a pretrial report is submitted to the Fresno County Superior Court for judicial review.
The current Pretrial program is staffed to supervise 360 participants. The current staffing for the program includes one Probation Services Manager, ten Deputy Probation Officers, 14 Probation Technicians, and one Office Assistant. The recommended additional staff includes one Probation Services Manager, three Deputy Probation Officers, ten Probation Technicians, and one Office Assistant to allow for an increase in the following: pretrial risk assessments, diverted bed space at the Jail with a goal of reduced federal overcrowding releases, and an expansion of the Pretrial Program operating hours from 8 AM to 5 PM to 24 hour a day to seven days a week.
The new Pretrial risk assessment, with an automation portal to include texts to defendants of court date reminders, and the integration with the Fresno County Sherriff’s Department will enhance current service delivery and efficiency to the justice system. The pilot expansion of the Pretrial Program would extend until June 30, 2020 and expand the current Program to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, the goal of the Program is to increase the safe and efficient method to release defendants pre-arraignment and at their arraignment hearing, by providing reports to judicial officers during non-traditional and traditional hours.
Expansion of the current pilot project is in anticipation of potential future state funding for pretrial programs. If no alternative funding is identified, the positions would be deleted at the end of the pilot period.
Should the Board approve the recommended actions, the Department of Human Resources - Labor Relations will begin noticing the affected Bargaining Units in order to allow the parties to Meet and Confer over any impact to the represented classifications.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #9, August 7, 2018
BAI #37, April 21, 2015
BAI #8, September 13, 2011
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution (Org 3430)
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution (Org 3436)
Salary Resolution Amendment Appendix “F”
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck