Title
Probation Department recommending the Board approve submission of the annual re-application to the State of California for continued funding of the Community Alliance to Reduce Truancy (CART) program through the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA).
FUNDING: Community Alliance to Reduce Truancy (CART).
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
|
|
Total Estimated Revenue |
|
$ 400,000 |
Interest |
|
$ 2,500 |
Funding |
|
|
Budgeted 2010-11 |
$ 402,500 |
|
New Funding |
$ |
|
Savings |
$ |
|
Total Funding Available |
$ 402,500 |
|
Net County Cost |
$ 259,811 |
|
Total Program Cost |
|
$ 662,311 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
The proposed budget for FY 2010/11 represents the Probation Department's estimate of JJCPA funds anticipated based on VLF distributions thus far and is shown in the Budget Summary box. The Department's proposed budget is less than the continuation of the Community Alliance to Reduce Truancy (CART) proposed Corrections Standards Authority (CSA) estimated allocation of $451,651.00 of JJCPA funding because the estimated allocation has historically been too high. This proposed budget can be amended in the budget addenda process if appropriate.
Background:
The Community Alliance to Reduce Truancy (CART) Program in El Dorado County has been operational since March of 2001, supported by annual funding from the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA). The JJCPA was created by the Crime Prevention Act of 2000, which created a funding source for local juvenile justice programs aimed at curbing crime and delinquency among at-risk youth. Local officials and stakeholders determine where to direct resources through an interagency planning process; the State appropriates the funds, which the State Controller's Office distributes to counties on a per-capita basis. It is a partnership that recognizes the need for juvenile justice resources and the value of local discretion and multi-agency collaboration in addressing the problem of juvenile crime in our communities.
JJCPA requires that funded programs be modeled on evidence-based strategies that have proven effective in curbing juvenile delinquency. The JJCPA also requires counties to collect and report information on annual program expenditures and juvenile justice outcomes. These evaluation efforts enable the Legislature to monitor the investment the State has made in the JJCPA and assess its overall impact on juvenile crime and delinquency. Counties are statutorily required to report data for six (6) mandated outcomes: 1) arrest rate; 2) incarceration rate; 3) probation violation rate; 4) probation completion rate; 5) restitution completion rate; and 6) community service completion rate. In addition to these mandated outcomes, El Dorado County's CART Program also collects and reports data on two (2) additional outcomes: school attendance and grade point average.
The CART Program has been operational for nine (9) years and has consistently met or exceeded program goals. The program assigns six (6) juvenile probation officers to thirteen (13) high school campuses in El Dorado County, where they provide intensive supervision and monitoring to juvenile probationers. The officers have the ability to immediately address problem behaviors and truancy by probationers. They also maintain a high profile presence on the school campus and during school events to create a safer school environment by deterring problem behaviors, delinquent activity, and violence. The probation officers work collaboratively with school personnel, law enforcement, and community agencies to provide prevention, intervention, and outreach assistance to at-risk students and the entire student body and their families. Additional program activities include sharing information and intelligence with law enforcement, addressing and preventing gang activity, participating in safety planning, and responding to problems and critical incidents.
The Department is required by the Juvenile Court and law (Welfare and Institutions Code ยง 628.1, 654, 725, 727, 741, 777, 778, 790, 840, 841, 1300-1308) to provide services and probation supervision to juvenile offenders. Without the funds provided by the JJCPA, the department would still have to devote four (4) probation officers to provide the mandated supervision of juvenile offenders, but on a much less effective basis.
Reason for Recommendation:
The Probation Department has completed all the necessary steps to submit our annual re-application for funding of the CART Program for FY 2010-11. The program is a proven success and continuation of the program is a key element in efforts to reduce crime and delinquency by at-risk youth.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
Probation Department to submit the annual JJCPA re-application to the State of California by the May 1, 2010 deadline.
Contact: Gary Hudgeons, Interim Chief Probation Officer, 530-621-5638