Title
District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Office recommending the Board:
1) Review and make available for public comment the County’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 application for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for funding in the amount of $17,372 to be expended between October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2024; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the FY 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program Certifications and Assurances after the 30-day review period for submittal by the Sheriff’s Office.
FUNDING: Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The JAG Program provides states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, crime victim and witness initiatives and mental health programs, and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), does require that the County notify the Board and make available a copy of the application for 30 days to allow any public comment regarding the application. After the 30-day review period the application will be signed by the Board Chair and submitted to BJA.
The Sheriff's Office received notification of the County's FY 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program award on November 16, 2023.
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting $8,686 to fund sending seven Detectives to the California Narcotics Officer Association (CNOA) Annual Training Institute. This Training Institute provides important education related to narcotic investigations, drug trends, and drug-related crime. The Detectives that would attend are assigned to the Narcotics Unit and would gain the knowledge and training needed to complete their jobs. It is critical for these employees to stay current on emerging trends in drug use and acquire the skills necessary to complete narcotic investigations in the safest and most efficient manner while complying with all laws and regulations. Due to the high cost of this conference, we would not be able to send these staff members to this training without this grant funding. They would miss out on essential training topics that could create efficiencies within their investigations or educate them on factors regarding their safety in the narcotics field.
The DA’s Office is requesting $8,686 be used to send five Investigators to the annual California District Attorney Investigator’s Association (CDAIA) conference. The CDAIA conference is an invaluable training for Investigators. The CDAIA conference will provide attendees with comprehensive education on police legitimacy, procedural justice, and the role of the DA Investigator. The conference generally provides several presentations, which include actual examples of successful investigations. Each of the presentations provides an in depth look at how various DA offices handle the presented cases and what tools were utilized in providing a sound investigation and prosecution. This type of training and networking with other law enforcement agencies provides the knowledge and connections to resources that are not currently available within the County. The attending Investigators will also be able to share their learned skills and contacts with the other personnel in the office.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve this item which would cause the County not to receive FY 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program funding.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no increase to net county cost for this program and no matching requirement. The grant application total is $17,372 from Justice Assistance Grant funds with $8,686 for both the District Attorney and the Sheriff's Office. Funding is included in the departments’ FY 2023-24 budgets.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain Chair signature on the Certifications and Assurances after the 30-day review period ends and return to the Sheriff’s Office for submittal.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz and District Attorney Vern Pierson