To: Board of Supervisors
From: Probation
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Monitoring and Associated Services Agreement with Track Group Inc., A Delaware Corporation
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the attached agreement between County of Humboldt Probation Department and Track Group, Inc. to provide electronic monitoring products and services to appropriate clients needing additional and/or increased supervision;
2. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to execute this agreement, as well as any amendments and documents related to the agreement; and
3. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer or designee to exercise the first and second options to extend the agreement under the same terms and conditions of the agreement without requiring further approval from the Board of Supervisors.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund Probation Budget Unit 235; General Fund Juvenile Hall Budget Unit 234; Humboldt County Public Safety Realignment Allocation Budget Unit 294.
DISCUSSION:
The County of Humboldt Probation Department (hereinafter Probation) operates a juvenile home supervision program as required by Section 840 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code. Probation also operates a Supervised Release Program (SRP) as part of the county’s AB 109 realignment plan. Both juvenile and adult probation supervision programs have historically utilized electronic monitoring (EM) as an additional form of oversight and in lieu of detention or incarceration. EM serves as a component of probation supervision to promote public safety and increase successful supervision completion outcomes. Probation’s current use of EM allows eligible juveniles to serve their detention commits at home, and reduces overcrowding in Juvenile Hall and the Regional Facility. Similarly, the release of adult offenders from custody to EM, assists in reducing overcrowding in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, and increases offenders’ accountability upon release from custody. Adult offenders placed on EM are more likely to comply with the terms and conditions of supervision and keep court appearances and appointments. Additionally, EM services allows Probation the ability to monitor high-risk offenders and registered sex offenders.
Due to pending SB 10 Bail Reform legislation, which currently is under referendum, Probation is proactively moving forward with the proposed agreement with Track Group, Inc. for EM devices with heightened technological capabilities and monitoring services. If and when SB 10 Bail Reform passes, Probation will be obligated to supervise an as-of-yet unknown number of adults released by the court on their own recognizance, to what is currently known as SRP, for supervision pending sentencing.
The proposed agreement attached hereto will change the vendor providing EM services. Under the terms of the proposed agreement, Track Group Inc. will provide EM equipment, training, and technical support to Probation. Through the enhanced capabilities of Track Group, Inc.’s EM devices and electronic monitoring services, Probation will have increased capability to:
1. Track offenders’ whereabouts to ensure they appear for court or appointments;
2. Set exclusion zones for offenders with stay-away or protective orders;
3. Speak to offenders directly through the device if they fail to comply with the orders of their supervision;
4. Send reminders to offenders through the use of vibration of the ankle bracelet or an alarm sound;
5. Utilize application technology that allows victims of domestic violence to be notified if their offender is within a certain distance from them; and
6. Deploy facial recognition software, via mobile phone, to allow for a breathalyzer to be plugged into the phone so that Probation can receive notifications of an offender’s blood alcohol concentration.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The maximum amount payable for the attached agreement is $750,000 over the course of a 3-year period, upon execution for fiscal years 2018-2019 through 2020-2021. Probation has the option to extend this agreement upon the same terms and conditions for two, 1-year terms. Should these terms and conditions be extended, it will be at no additional cost to the $750,000 cap on the agreement.
Historically, the annual cost of EM services utilized by Probation has been around $40,000. It is anticipated that the new annual cost with Track Group, Inc. will not exceed this amount, bringing the total amount spent over the 3-year contract period to $120,000. Should Probation exercise the right to extend the terms and conditions for the two, 1-year terms, it would be an additional cost of $80,000, bringing the total agreement amount to $200,000.
As previously mentioned, to proactively prepare for pending SB 10 Bail Reform legislation, Probation has set the maximum agreement amount at $750,000. In the event that SB 10 legislation passes, this agreement amount will ensure that the added costs to supervise an unknown amount of new offenders will be covered.
The funding for this agreement comes from the contract services object line 2325, from multiple Probation Budget Units: General Fund Probation Budget Unit 235; General Fund Juvenile Hall Budget Unit 234; Humboldt County Public Safety Realignment Allocation Budget Unit 294.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by enforcing laws and regulations to protect residents and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may elect not to approve this agreement; however, it is not recommended, as the Probation Department believes that the proposed agreement for EM devices and monitoring services will support and enhance Probation’s ability to supervise and monitor juveniles on home supervision, eligible high-risk adult offenders, and individuals released on their own recognizance to Probation for supervision pending sentencing as a result of bail reform.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Service Agreement between County of Humboldt Probation Department and Track Group Inc., A Delaware Corporation.
2. Vendor Comparison
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A