To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Board Authority for Sheriff’s Office Electronic Monitoring Program as an Alternative to Incarceration
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to operate an Electronic Monitoring Program in lieu of serving jail time in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF), prior to COVID-19, operated at over 90% of its rated capacity for 2018 and 2019. This increase in capacity is most directly related to the Criminal Justice Realignment Act of 2011 (AB 109) which shifted responsibility for the custody of offenders who have been convicted of non-serious, non-violent, or non-high-risk sex offenses from the state to the counties. Penal Code Section 1203.016 authorizes the Board of Supervisors to authorize an Electronic Monitoring Program (EMP) that can be used in conjunction with a Work Alternative Program which is regulated by Penal Code Section 4024.2. Furthermore, Penal Code Section 1203.016 provides that the Board shall review annually the rules for the EMP (Attachment 1). The Sheriff will schedule annual reviews with the Board to provide information related to the EMP pursuant to Penal Code Section 1203.016.
In order to stay within the rated capacity and in compliance with the Board of State and Community Corrections guidelines the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has continued to explore ways of managing the ever-growing population. By authorizing the Sheriff’s Office to operate an EMP it will allow another way to maintain a reasonable population while allowing offenders the opportunity to continue to be productive members of the community. In support of the request to implement an EMP, the Sheriff’s Office entered into an agreement with Attenti US, Inc. (Attachment 2). The average cost of incarcerating an individual is $113.00 per day, while the cost of the electronic monitoring with Attenti is $3.20 daily per person. The $113.00 daily jail rate includes fixed overhead costs regardless of the population count, but it is expected the county will realize savings in food, clothing, and household items by reducing the inmate population and will realize improved safety for both inmates and staff.
Additionally by allowing the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to operate an Electronic Monitoring Program they will be able to use it in conjunction with the already existing Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) by allowing participants to serve their sentence by being placed on an Electronic Monitor and working for the SWAP program one day per week. Participants will be required to complete an application for participation in the EMP (Attachment 3).
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
HCCF will absorb the cost of this program in its current budget allocation. There is no additional general fund request. The anticipated budget savings in food, clothing, and household supplies will cover the cost of the program. If the facility averaged 10 participants per month on electronic monitoring that would have a cost of 10 X 30 X $3.20 for a total of $960.00 per month. If that was sustained for the entire year the total annual fiscal cost would be $11,520.00. The contract is for a three-year term with an amount not to exceed $50,000.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to authorize Electronic Monitoring for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office but that is not recommended as it would take a valuable tool away that allows for maintaining a population within the jail within the regulatory guidelines of the Board of State and Community Corrections.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Rules and Requirement Agreement for Electronic Monitoring Program
2. Contract with Attenti, INC.
3. Application for Placement on Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Electronic Monitoring Program.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A