To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Expansion of Educational Tablets in the Correctional Facility
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign three originals of an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement between Jail Education Solutions, Inc. (Edovo) and the County of Humboldt for a 6-month extension to the current program; and
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute any additional modifications, amendments or extensions for the duration of the agreement.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Budget Unit 243 - Sheriff's Jail, line item 2557 - Inmate Welfare Fund
DISCUSSION:
Assembly Bill 109 and Proposition 47 have stated goals of reducing recidivism, among others. Implementation of these laws has resulted in a change of philosophy regarding the role of correctional facilities in providing educational curriculum to inmates. Programs aimed at reducing recidivism create greater demands on resources and staffing.
To overcome some of these barriers, companies are now introducing tablets for inmate use, focusing primarily on presenting educational programs to inmates in restrictive housing or inmates who are unable to attend group classes due to security concerns.
Edovo has developed educational curriculum for use on tablets that will interface with the programs currently provided by College of the Redwoods. The proposed 6-month extension of the existing pilot program will allow for an expansion of tablets to all inmate housing areas of the jail. The program will allow inmates in more segregated housing to access the tablets.
A secondary benefit enables inmates the opportunity to achieve educational benchmarks on the tablets and earn points towards entertainment rewards, such as movies, music, etc. These rewards will help occupy inmates' time and hopefully create a more tranquil atmosphe...
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