To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution No._____ (Attachment 1) authorizing the Sheriff’s Office to submit the governing body resolution for the Byrne JAG program and if awarded, accept the grant funds and sign any documents required by Board of State and Community Corrections for participation in the grant program; and
2. Authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff or Deputy Director Sheriff’s Administration to execute all the necessary reimbursement claims, applications, contracts, and agreements and amendments thereto, in the name of the County of Humboldt, and all other documents required by the Board of State and Community Corrections; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return completed and signed copy of the Resolution to the Sheriff’s Office, Attention: Manda Terrill for submittal to funding agency.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC)
DISCUSSION:
Historically, funding for the JAG program in California has been allocated directly to counties through a non-competitive process for which the Sheriff's Office has received grant awards. In prior years JAG funds were split between the Anti-Drug Abuse (ADA) and Marijuana Suppression (MSP) grants; in 2014 the BSCC combined both of these grants to establish a competitive grant process that includes all of California's 58 counties. Although the release of the request for proposal was on Dec. 6, 2018, the conference outlining specific instructions was not until Jan. 23, 2019. The grant proposal was due to BSCC by April 25, 2019.
The Sheriff's Office, on behalf of the Humboldt County Local JAG Steering Committee, submitted the application that benefits participants within the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (DTF) and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU). The DTF and DEU integrate federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of enhancing interagency coordination and intelligence and facilitates multi-jurisdictional investigations. While maintaining law enforcement programs as a priority, the new JAG program also emphasizes prevention and education programs, as well as court, prosecution and defense strategies. Another requirement is to create a data collection, reporting and evaluation plan to be administered by Humboldt State University, California Center for Rural Policy.
If awarded, BSCC will fund a 36-month cycle beginning Oct. 1, 2019 and ending on Sept. 30, 2022. The application is for the first year funds and overall program. Funding for years 2 and 3 will not be competitive, although it will be dependent on California's JAG allocations.
The 3-year project strategy leverages the already existing partnership of county law enforcement agencies, DTF and DEU, in collaboration with the North Coast Rape Crisis Team (NCRCT). The focus of the project is to deploy additional law enforcement and prosecution resources against the most severe controlled substance and marijuana violators to reduce the amount of available narcotics and meth on the street, reduce the amount of black market marijuana grows, reduce the amount of violent crimes in the county by increasing the number of prosecutions for these offenders, and increase the training and intervention support provided to victims of the black market marijuana and narcotics industry.
The project will actively investigate the sale, manufacturing and distribution of controlled substances by focusing investigative efforts on complex drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and mid- to high-level drug traffickers. These offenders pose a serious short- and long-term threat to the community. The target population is primarily large DTOs that are more likely to have significant operational influence, human trafficking, ties to other drug activity and substantial community impact. Agencies will cooperatively investigate narcotics and black market marijuana-related crimes, including cultivation and trafficking, and arrest and prosecute perpetrators of these crimes.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Humboldt County Local JAG Steering Committee evaluated the best use of the maximum annual funding among all the potential project partners and proposed funding towards two new positions, overtime of three existing full-time positions, and funding for community outreach as more fully described below.
The project will staff a new full-time DEU Sergeant for the HCSO who will be accountable for day-to-day operations focused on the reduction of black market marijuana cultivation. HCSO currently funds an existing DTF Sergeant focused on day-to-day operations to reduce narcotics trafficking. The two Sergeants will collaborate for a more effective approach to combating the black market marijuana and narcotics industries in Humboldt County. APD and EPD each provide a full-time Special Agent dedicated to the objectives of the DTF. JAG funding has been allocated for overtime for these Special Agents to increase their efforts for black market marijuana and narcotics investigations. Providing overtime funding for a DA Special Investigator to provide more support to the deputies and agents increases the success of meeting project goals and objectives. In addition to the Special Investigator, the DA’s office has been allocated funding for the development of an additional DA Special Prosecutor focused on prosecuting violent drug crime offenders. The JAG funding would support NCRCT to provide additional trainings and intervention services that address sexual exploitation and assault within black market marijuana and narcotic industries. CCRP will develop quarterly and annual reports from the collected data.
Historically, this was a non-competitive grant and is now competitive. The Sheriff’s Office is applying for a 3-year grant for a total of $660,000. The requested grant funds would be used as follows:
There is no additional general fund contribution requested. If awarded, HCSO will bring forward a supplemental budget request to appropriate the grant funds.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by seeking outside funding sources to benefit Humboldt County needs while enforcing laws and regulations to protect residents.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
California Board of State and Community Corrections
Arcata Police Department
Eureka Police Department
Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office
North Coast Rape Crisis Team Community Outreach Program
Humboldt State University, California Center for Rural Policy
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could deny the request to, if awarded, accept the grant funds. This is not recommended as these grant funds are integral to the continuation of the county’s marijuana and narcotic control programs. In order to continue these programs without Byrne JAG grant funding the department would have to seek funding elsewhere or request additional monies from the General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Byrne JAG Governing Body Resolution
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A