Agenda

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PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	02/28/2022
Subject: Racial Justice Oversight Body Vacancy and Recruitment
Submitted For:	Esa Ehmen-Krause, County Probation Officer
Department:	Probation
Referral No.:	N/A
Referral Name:	Referral on Racial Justice Oversight Body – 2022 Recruitment Plan
Presenter:	Patrice Guillory	Contact:	Nicole Popczuk, (925) 313-4139

Information

Referral History:

On July 24, 2018, the Board of Supervisors adopted the "Racial Justice Task Force - Final Report and Recommendations", which included the recommendation to create a Racial Justice Oversight Body tasked with the periodic review and reporting of racial and ethnic disparities in the local criminal and juvenile justice systems, as well as the ongoing support and monitoring of efforts to implement recommendations to reduce the disparities.

Based on this action, the Racial Justice Oversight Body is composed of the following 18 representatives:

A representative from the Superior Court, as a non-voting member;
The Sheriff or his designee;
The Chief Probation Officer or his designee;
The Public Defender or her designee;
The District Attorney or her designee;
A representative from a local law enforcement agency, nominated by the Contra Costa County Police Chiefs’ Association;
A representative from the Contra Costa County Office of Education;
A representative from a Local School District (Rotation: Mt. Diablo/West Contra Costa/Antioch)
A representative from Contra Costa County Health Services Department; and
Nine community-based representatives, including:
- Community-based Representative, Seat 1 & 2: two members nominated by the Contra Costa Racial Justice Coalition
- Community-based Representative, Seat 3 & 4: two individuals with prior personal criminal or juvenile justice system involvement
- Community-based Representative, Seat 5, 6 & 7: three representatives from community-based organizations (CBO) that work with justice involved populations, including at least one person who works directly with youth
- Community-based Representative, Seat 8: one representative from a faith-based organization
- Community-based Representative, Seat 9: one representative that is either a school age young person, or from a CBO who provides services to school age youth

On September 29, 2020, a three-week recruitment process was initiated by the County to fill the seven (7) community-based seats. The Racial Justice Coalition selected their two nominations. The deadline for submissions was October 19, 2020 and the County received a total of 25 applications.

On October 26, 2020, the PPC interviewed and approved the nominations for appointment to the Racial Justice Oversight Body. On January 19, 2021, the Board of Supervisors appointed the individuals identified in Attachment A to serve on the Racial Justice Oversight Body.

Referral Update:

On November 4, 2021, Apollo Sulse, the Community-based Representative (Seat 8), was declared inactive by the Racial Justice Oversight Body.

On November 15, 2021, Noe Gudiño, the Community-based Representative (Seat 9), notified staff of his desire to resign from the Racial Justice Oversight Body.

On December 7, 2021, the Board of Supervisors accepted the resignation of Noe Gudiño and motion by full body declaring Apollo Sulse inactive, declared a vacancy of the Community Representative Seat 8 and 9 on the Racial Justice Oversight Body, and directed the Clerk of the Board to post the vacancies.

Staff recommends the following recruitment schedule options to fill current vacancies on the RJOB:

OPTION 1: 3-Week Application Period – Spring 2022 (NOTE: Recruitment for Community-based Representative Seats #8 & #9 Vacancies ONLY):

Mar 21: Issue press release advertising vacancies
Apr 11: Application Deadline (3-week application period)
Apr 25: PPC Meeting: Interviews
May 10: BOS consideration of PPC nominations

OPTION 2: 7-Week Application Period – Spring 2022 (NOTE: Recruitment for Community-based Representative Seats #8 & #9 Vacancies ONLY):

Mar 21: Issue press release advertising vacancies
May 9: Application Deadline (7-week application period)
May 23: PPC Meeting: Interviews
Jun 7: BOS consideration of PPC nominations

In preparation for all Community-based Representative seats with terms expiring on December 31st, 2022, Staff also recommends initiating an additional recruitment process scheduled for Fall 2022. The following recruitment schedule options would include:

OPTION 1: 3-Week Application Period – Fall 2022 (NOTE: Recruitment for ALL 9 Community-based Representative Seats):

Sep 19: Issue press release advertising vacancies
Oct 10: Application Deadline (3-week application period)
Oct 24: PPC Meeting: Interviews
Nov 8: BOS consideration of PPC nominations

OPTION 2: 7-Week Application Period – Fall 2022 (NOTE: Recruitment for ALL 9 Community-based Representative Seats):

Aug 22: Issue press release advertising vacancies
Oct 10: Application Deadline (7-week application period)
Oct 24: PPC Meeting: Interviews
Nov 8: BOS consideration of PPC nominations

Attachment A includes a full roster of Members for the Racial Justice Oversight Body including term expiration dates and current vacancies for Community-based Representative Seats 8 and 9.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

PROVIDE direction to staff regarding the recruitment process to immediately fill (2) vacant Community-based Representative Seats 8 and 9 of the Racial Justice Oversight Body.

PROVIDE direction to staff regarding a recruitment process for Fall 2022 to fill all (9) Community-based Representative Seats of the Racial Justice Oversight Body scheduled to expire on December 31st, 2022.

Attachments
Attachment A - 2022 Racial Justice Oversight Body Member Roster