DATE: September 22, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Probation Specialized Units Program Grant Application/Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Chief Probation Officer’s previous submittal of a grant application to the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), for the Probation Specialized Units Program ($100,000);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Grant Application/Agreement for the Probation Specialized Units Program with Cal OES, for the period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021; and
3. Adopt resolution retroactively authorizing the Chairman to sign the grant application, and to execute the Grant Award Agreement and any extensions or amendments thereto with Cal OES for the period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, subject to the approval of County Counsel’s Office as to legal form, and subject to approval as to accounting form by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector ($100,000).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. To meet the grant filing date, the Grant Application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. The Application, when executed by Cal OES, will provide specialized supervision of high-risk domestic violence offenders and support to their victims through the Specialized Supervision Program. The recommended actions will authorize the previous submittal of the grant application and execution of the Grant Subaward Face Sheet and Certification of Compliance (Grant Agreement). It should be noted that once the Grant Award Face Sheet is executed by the Chairman and Cal OES, the application documents become the final Agreement between the County and Cal OES. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the grant application will be withdrawn. This will result in the elimination or reduction of specialized supervision of domestic violence offenders and enhanced assistance to their victims. It will also result in the elimination of the Deputy Probation Officer (DPO) and Victim Witness Advocate (VA) positions, unless an alternative funding source is identified.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The grant is a total of $100,000. The mandated match of $33,333 has been waived by Cal OES. A total of $152,651 in additional funding is required to provide the services included in this Program. The additional $152,651 will be funded with Senate Bill 678 funds. There is a DPO and a VA position in this program. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for this Grant Program are included in Probation’s FY 2020-21 Adopted Grants Budget Org 3432. It should be noted, the Department does not charge indirect costs to administer the grant Program.
DISCUSSION:
The Department has received Probation Specialized Unit Program funds from Cal OES since 2014. On October 8, 2018, Cal OES awarded the County a new competitive Probation Specialized Unit Program grant to fund the Department’s existing Program from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. In addition, Cal OES provided the Department the opportunity to apply for non-competitive funds for an additional three consecutive years, for a total of four years of funding. The recommended actions provide for continuation of the program for the third year of funding.
The grant will be used to fund the Probation Specialized Unit Program, which allows for a DPO and a VA to be dedicated entirely to a specialized domestic violence caseload of high-risk violent offenders and their victims. The Program will intensely supervise high-risk offenders convicted of a violent crime related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and/or stalking, while minimizing further trauma to victims and families by providing protection and referrals to supportive services and counseling. Intensive supervision requires weekly contact with offenders, with at least 80% of the contacts being face-to-face. It also requires monthly contact with counseling and treatment programs where the offender is enrolled to assess the offender’s progress. In addition, the DPO updates risk assessments every six months, checks police logs, conducts drug and alcohol testing, reviews court files, and requests appropriate sanctions if the probationer commits a new abuse or violation, fails to participate in designated counseling and/or treatment programs, or commits a new criminal offense.
A VA engages victims of probationers as early as possible and minimizes further trauma to victims and families by providing victim protection and referrals to supportive services and counseling. The VA ensures that victims understand the terms of probation and works with the DPO in the Program to make the victims’ safety concerns known. The DPO/VA team maintain records of all contacts with offenders and the services provided to victims and children.
The Request for Application for this grant, including the allocation of funds, was provided to the Department on May 22, 2020. To meet the filing deadline of July 24, 2020, the grant application was previously submitted to Cal OES, contingent upon your Board’s approval. Once the Grant Award Face Sheet is executed by the Chairman and Cal OES, it becomes the final agreement between the County and Cal OES, effective October 1, 2020.
The third recommended action will adopt a resolution stating Chairman has the authority to execute any extensions or amendments to this grant, as required by Cal OES, subject to review and approval as to legal form by the County Counsel’s Office and as to accounting form by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, not to exceed the total of $100,000.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 40, October 22, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application/Agreement with Cal OES
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck