The State Budget Act of 2014 (Chapter 25, Statutes of 2014) includes several new grant programs in the area of public safety for oversight by local government. Contra Costa County has received correspondence from the California Bureau of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) regarding two grant programs for which the County is eligible to participate: the Community Recidivism Reduction Grant and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. Each program has required that a Notice of Intent to Apply be filed with the BSCC - Contra Costa County has filed both notices with the BSCC and is eligible to participate. A brief description of each program is outlined below:
Community Recidivism Reduction Grant: The Budget Act of 2014 (Chapter 25, Statutes of 2014) allocates $8 million to the Board of State and Community Corrections for the Community Recidivism Reduction Grant described in Penal Code section 1233.10. Counties are eligible to receive funds if the Board of Supervisors, in collaboration with the county’s Community Corrections Partnership, agrees to develop a competitive grant program intended to fund community recidivism and crime reduction services. Each county must notify the BSCC of its interest in participating in this grant program by sending a letter confirming interest by September 30, 2014. On September 16, 2014, the Board of Supervisors approved a letter of interest (Agenda Item No. C.51, attached) agreeing to develop a competitive grant program intended to fund community recidivism and crime reduction services. On October 3, 2014, the Community Corrections Partnership voted unanimously to acknowledge the intent of the County to participate in the grant program in coordination with the Board of Supervisors (Agenda Item No. 6).
Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program: The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (42 U.S. Code §3751(a)) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program provides critical funding necessary to support state and local initiatives, to include: technical assistance, strategic planning, research and evaluation (including forensics), data collection, training, personnel, equipment, forensic laboratories, supplies, contractual support, and criminal justice information systems.
Currently, the County has budgeted $341,994 over three departments (District Attorney as lead agency ($136,630), Probation ($104,394) and Sheriff's Office ($100,970) for fiscal year FY 2014/15 for this funding source through the Regional Anti-Drug Program (RADA) grant previously administered by the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA). The State Budget Act of 2014 transferred responsibility and oversight of the Federal JAG Program grant to the BSCC with a new approach. The BSCC has released an RFP (attached) that describes the new requirements for participation in this grant by counties, including the establishment of a local JAG Steering Committee. Contra Costa County is considered a large county and is, therefore, eligible for up to $1,045,625 per year for three years. This would be a potential increase in funding to the County of close to $700,000; however, should the new proposal not maintain, at a minimum, current funding levels to individual departments authorized under the former RADA grant program, then that department(s) will have a structural deficit. At a bidder's conference held on Friday, October 17th, the BSCC clarified that funding was available for five large counties (in addition to Los Angeles County). |
At the October 27, 2014 Public Protection Committee, provided the following direction to staff:
1. Staff needs to prioritize formation of JAG Steering Committee prior to the existing workgroup agreeing on a programmatic approach to the grant.
2. The JAG Steering Committee should be composed of 12-14 members, including "traditional" and "non-traditional" stakeholders as outlined in the State RFP.
3. Committee staff should schedule a special meeting of the Public Protection Committee to receive an update on the JAG Grant proposal development process prior to the November 24, 2014 submission deadline.
The special meeting of the PPC was requested to provide the Committee with an opportunity to meet prior to submission of the Byrne JAG Grant proposal to the BSCC. The JAG workgroup is scheduled to meet on Thursday, November 6, 2014, which is the same date that the PPC agenda packet is required to be published pursuant to the Better Government Ordinance. For that reason, staff will provide an update and materials related to the scheduled workgroup meeting at the PPC meeting and request that those materials be accepted into the record.
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1. ACCEPT staff report on the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and Community Recidivism Reduction Grant programs; and,
2. AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to secure a grant writer, if needed, to assist in the development of the final Byrne JAG grant proposal in recognition of the short turnaround time required to submit the grant by November 24, 2014.
2. PROVIDE direction to staff as necessary. |