To: Board of Supervisors
From: Probation
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
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Approval of Joint Agency Fugitive Apprehension Team Memorandum of Understanding and Fiscal Year 2019-20 Supplemental Budget for Budget Unit 295 to Reimburse Law Enforcement Overtime Costs (4/5 Vote Required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the MOU between Humboldt County and local law enforcement agencies to provide realignment fugitive apprehension services;
2. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer, Sheriff, and District Attorney to sign on behalf of Humboldt County, and to sign future renewals of the MOU on substantially similar terms and conditions after review of County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3. Approve the corresponding supplemental budget for budget unit 295 to reimburse agencies the cost of staff overtime incurred by executing this program.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Humboldt County Public Safety Realignment Allocation
DISCUSSION:
The Criminal Justice Realignment Act of 2011 made significant changes to the sentencing and supervision of persons convicted of felony offenses. The legislation amended many statutes concerning where a defendant serves their sentence, and how a defendant is to be supervised following their release from prison or jail custody. For the Humboldt County Probation Department, this meant assuming supervision responsibilities for Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) offenders who were released from prison, and Mandatory Supervision offenders released from County Jail. The shift of responsibility from state to county had a significant impact on the jail population which was already at full capacity. In response to this issue, Humboldt County Probation created the Supervised Release Program (SRP) which is an alternative to custody for individuals pending criminal proceedings. These changes created three distinct realignment populations: PRCS offenders, Mandatory Supervision offenders, and SRP participants.
Now, 8 years later, the realignment populations constitute approximately 25% of the adult population under formal supervision by the county. As of June 12, 2019, there were 180 PRCS offenders, 176 Mandatory Supervision Offenders, and 121 SRP participants. Though comprising only 25% of the case load, these populations were responsible for approximately 39% of the violation petitions filed with the court last fiscal year and approximately 56% of all flash incarcerations. The PRCS and Mandatory Supervision populations are assessed as the highest risk to recidivate under community supervision and therefore necessitate increased focus by service providers, probation officers, and law enforcement agencies. Local data demonstrates that those on supervised release (SRP) who have absconded from supervision are more likely to be involved in criminal activity.
Currently, 20% of the PRCS and Mandatory Supervision population is on warrant status. There are 66 individuals, 77% of whom are considered high risk to re-offend, at large in our community. Their apprehension would improve the safety of the community and potentially reconnect them with rehabilitative services. Locating and apprehending these offenders on warrant status is a high-risk activity for law enforcement. Those risks can be mitigated through investigative efforts and through the formation of teams trained to safely enter and secure subjects. Because absconding offenders may be found in any community within the county, this effort requires the coordination of several local law enforcement agencies.
The mission of the Joint Agency Fugitive Apprehension Team would be to pursue absconded realignment offenders, take them back into custody, and enforce the terms of their supervision which in turn will reduce repeated criminal activities in our communities. It would further target other high risk offenders at large on criminal warrants. Statistical data would be kept in regard to subjects taken back into custody, any new charges that may result from these apprehensions, and the locations they were found. This will also provide data to show their impact on vulnerable segments of our communities. Each team would be comprised of one sergeant who will coordinate efforts and supervise the mission, and approximately three officers or deputies, and at least one Probation Officer. It is estimated that one individual operation will be executed weekly.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The estimated annual cost of this program is $67,600, which covers overtime salary for officers while they are participating in the program. The funding will come from the Humboldt County Public Safety Realignment Allocation which has a current trust balance of $4,023,076.76 and was supported by a vote of the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Executive Committee on Feb. 20, 2019. There is no impact to the county General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by enforcing laws and regulations to protect residents.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Allied Local Law Enforcement Agencies
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may elect not to approve this request however that is not recommended. The individuals targeted by these operations are considered to be high-risk to reoffend and efforts to take them back into custody and enforce the terms of their supervision will improve public safety and reduce criminal activity in our communities.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Memorandum of Understanding
2. Supplemental Budget for 3741-295
3. HCCCP Executive Committee Minutes from February 20, 2019
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-26
Meeting of: July 19, 2016
File No.: 16-4857