Agenda

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C. 41

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Esa Ehmen-Krause, County Probation Officer
Date:	April 12, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Memorandum of Understanding with the Superior Court for Pretrial Services

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/12/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Danielle Fokkema, 925-313-4195

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 12, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Probation Officer, or designee, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Superior Court of California - County of Contra Costa County to pay the County an amount not to exceed $4,597,155 to facilitate the expansion of Pretrial Services per Senate Bill 129, for the period of December 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, with automatic annual renewals.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Approval of this Memorandum of Understanding will result in a total payment to the County not to exceed $4,497,155. (100% State; No County Match)

BACKGROUND:

California Senate Bill 129, Budget Act of 2021 allocated funding to every Superior Court in California to support judicial officers in making pretrial release decisions that impose the least restrictive conditions, to address public safety and return to court, and to implement appropriate monitoring practices and provision of services for released individuals. The funds are available for three fiscal years, until June 30, 2024. Courts are required to contract with any County Department, including Probation, to provide pretrial services, except those departments or agencies that have primary responsibility for making arrests or prosecuting criminal offenses. In Contra Costa County, pretrial services are provided by the Probation Department. The Department plans to use these funds to expand the Pretrial Services program to practice and promote safe, efficient, fair and timely release of clients booked into County jail.

Three Deputy Probation Officers and a Supervising Deputy Probation Officer were added to enhance pretrial services in Contra Costa County. This was intended to increase Probation’s ability to provide reports to the Court in a timely manner, and broaden the number of eligible candidates to be released from a custodial setting back into the community. These positions will also improve Probation’s ability to connect individuals with supportive community based services to potentially reduce their involvement in the justice system.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If unapproved, Probation will be unable to expand the existing Pretrial Services program.