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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 05a_08/14/2014 ��� Ac � �°�� �a�� �� ♦ . ' f ��c?Rl ��' Criminal fnstice Caixtmiss'[on 7uly 23 2a14 301 t+tor[h p]ive Avenue, suite laot West Palm Beach. FL 334o1-47G5 {562) 555-49�F3 FAX: (Sdi} 355•4941 To All Pa1m Beach C�unty Mayors: wtivw pbcgov.comtcriminaljusuce The Criminal Justi�c� Commissian (CJC) seeks your approval in the allocation of FY201S {Pederal Fiscal Year 2014) Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds. The total FY2t}15 allocation tc� Palm Beach Caunty is �341,2�3. Palm Seach Caunty The JAG funds provide agencies c�Tith the.flexibilit3� to prioritize and place Justice �� °� °ocui funds where the are ne�ed most. The CJG vated to su r.ommissioners Y �port ca�ntinua.tian of existing programs. The recommeiadation for the FY2015 allc�catian is as foliows: Priscilla tL Taylor, Mayar FauletCc Burdick. Vice Mayor Hal R Ualeche FEDERAL StiBGRANTEE, PRO.TECT TI'TLE FUNDS Sheiley V'ana _ �CQ�j��+ ND�� Steven L_ :�brams i Palm Beach Caunty PaIm Beach C�u�ty Drug 1� 1.003 Court Treaetment � Mary i,ou Serger Palm Beach County County-wide Reentry Serviees 110,Z24 Jess ft. Santamaria Palm Beach County Lavv Enforcament Exchan�;e 50,000 TOTAL � �341,227 -- - - ---- �--- -- - co�a�y aai,tiin3strator �" `"�`��` Tne FIorida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) requires that fi&y-one percent (S l%) af th� local units of gavernment repres�nting at least fifty-or�e p�rcent (51%} af the county's �opulaxion agree on the allo�ation di these fu�ds. For yuur canvenience, we have prepared the attached samgle lettex for ypur use. Due to �e applicatian deadline, we ask that this letter be receivad at the Criminal Justiee Cflmmiccion Q$�'ice, no later than Angust 11, 2U14. �4n Fquat 6ppa�tunt� �f/J�matfN4 �4ctfon $mp1�)�er i.L.�; prirted on re�:Y�ed psper `�f Please send the letter t�o: Palm Beach Caunty Criminai Justice ��rnmission Attn: Arlene Griffit�s 30i North� Oii�ve Av�nue, �uit� 1041 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 If you should require additional infarrnation ar have azxy questi�ons, piease contact Michael Rodriguez at (561} 355-�943. YQUr immediate attention to this ma�tter is gready appreciat�d. _ f= = Sincerel �''� y . ° � , ` �.-_ Michael L. Rodriguez -�" Execu#ive Direc�or Cc: Mr_ William Kramez, CJ� Chairman Ali palm Beach �ounty Police Chiefs SAMPLE LETTER � _ _> Ms. Petrina Herring, Administrator Florida Department of Law Enforcement Office of Criminal Justice Grants 2331 Phillips Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 Dear Ms. Herring: In compliance with the State of Florida Rule 11 D-9, F.A. C., the < -> approves the distribution of $341,227of Federal Fiscal Year 2014 (FY2015) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for the following projects within Palm Beach County: FEDERAL SUBGRANTEE PRO.TECT TTTLE FUNDS RECOMI��NDED Palm Beach County palm Beach County Drug 181,003 Court Treatment Palm Beach County County-wide Re-entry 110,224 Services Palm Beach County Law Enforcement Exchange 50,000 T4TAL $341,227 Sincerely, Mayor � . - ,-_ . _ � DRUG CQURT Abstinence and public safety are the ultimate goals of drug courts all over this country. In Palm Beach County the Adult Drug Court's goals are no different. In a Drug Court program started over 10 years ago by State Statute, this court has saved the tax payer millions of dollars as the cost of confinement began to skyrocket. The cost of incarceration is up to $20,000 per inmate for a FL Department of Corrections resident. In most Department of Corrections facilities the number one reason for confinement is drug related charges. This coupled with sentencing guidelines have created a revolving door. Drug Court helps to stem this tide through its unique intervention program. Using a unique assessment tool, Drug Court participants are screened not only for abuse tendencies but also for risk to recidivate. Drug Court professionals screen for high risk/high need participants thereby removing a serious threat from our streets. The success of drug court and its graduation level is in the selection of participants and the highly specialized case management tools coupled with drug testing and constant court appearances. Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission's goal is to align and support the common judicial and legal interventions as they exist. Drug Court integrates several treatment services under this program. The participants are intervened at the earliest stages of their incarceration when several members of the team meet with the potential client. They are provided with a list of options which include meetings, treatment, sanctions and recourse. Eligibility Requirements are clearly opined in the State Statue convening Drug Court, which is F.S. 984.08 and 397.334. This document spells out the requirements for entry and exit. The promptness of placement is another reason for the successful outcomes seen in this program. Although Drug Court has stringent testing and treatment requirements, there is success. There is weekly urine testing, individual and group counseling and AA Meetings. It is a combination of strong support and strong accountability. Outpatient treatment with continuous follow up and long term care is pivotal to the success of this program. The Drug Court Judge and staffing from the Court form the core support and participant accountability. The graduated sanctions are never far away from the participants and they act as a strong motivator. The Criminal Justice Commission has a strong Research and Evaluation Staff which will be involved with measuring the success of the program. Those measurements have been formulated and are in place at this time. In Drug Court, treatment is often supplied through private and public sector collaboration. The linkages in the community are a conduit for information to the public about the available support through this important partnership. REENTRY Echoing many of the problems found nationally with reentry, Palm Beach County's released prisoners face numerous challenges that ultimately aid in their return to criminal activity, re arrest and re-incarceration. These challenges include unemployment, lack of housing, substance abuse, mental health problems and strained family relationships. To further compound these challenges, institutional programs aimed at assisting inmates in dealing with these issues have been sharply reduced in recent years due to budget reductions. Research shows that unemployment has a profound impact on recidivism rates. Statistics show that even before incarceration, adult inmates demonstrate weak or non-existent ties to the workforce (33% of inmates are unemployed in the month leading up to their arrests, compared to 10% unemployment in the general population). The lack of appropriate housing and the inability to access substance abuse treatment and mental heaith care significantly reduce positive outcomes. The "what works" literature shows that programs that pro�ide intensive substance abuse and rriental heaith treatment during incarceration, combined with aftercare, have proven effective in reducing recidivism; however, accessing these services continues to prove challenging for the target population. ln recent years, reentry in Palm Beach County has received increased attention as public policy leaders are searching for innovative ways of decreasing cost of incarceration while maintaining pubtic safety. As a result, the Criminal Justice Commission's Reentry Task Force has developed a five-year plan and implemented various projects that work with ex-offenders. Evidence-Based Methodology and Outcome Measures - Palm Beach County utilizes the Risk- Needs-Respansivity (RNR) model to guide the reentry process. The RNR model refers to predicting which inmates have a higher probability of recidivating and treating the criminogenic needs of those inmates with appropriate programs based on their level of need. There is considerable empirical evidence that programs that target inmates who are at a higher risk to recidivate are more effective in reducing recidivism than those that do not. Accordingly, a range of interventions are provided that target the specific criminogenic needs of inmates wha are higher risk. The long te�m goals are to increase pub{ic safety by reducing recidivism by 50% over 5 years in Palm Beach County. Outcome measures that are used to monitor the impact of the process of these long term goals include a reduction in recidivism rates for the target population. The six fundamental strategies of evidence-based correctional practice are integrated into the design of the program. The program: 1) Objectively Assess Criminogenic Risks and Needs: Inmates are objectively assessed using the LSI-r Risk/Needs Assessment. 2) Enhances Intrinsic Motivation: Pre- and Post-Release StafF received training in motivational interviewing and are trained instructors for the Thinking For A Change Curriculum, a cognitive behavior change program for offenders that includes cognitive restructuring, social skills development and development of problem solving skills. 3) Targets Higher-Risk Offenders: Medium to high risk offenders are identified using the LSI-r Assessment and receive the most intensive treatment. Lower-risk offenders receive less intensive treatment services. 4) Addresses Offenders Greatest Criminogenic Needs: Identifies and targets the inmate's criminogenic (Anti-social attitudes, Anti-social friends, Substance abuse, Lack of empathy, Impulsive behavior) needs through individual assessment of each inmate. 5) Uses Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions: Strategies are focused on changing the offender's thinking patterns in order to change future perceptions. The Thinking For A Change curriculum provides the vehicle for change. 6) Determines Dosage and tntensity of Services: Proper dosage of time and programming are eonsidered based on the risk of the offender. Higher dosages of programming and interventions are provided to offenders who present elevated risk. The target population is 5,000 ex- offenders, over the age of 18, returning to Palm Beach County. Funds will be provided for case management, assessments, community support, employment, counseling and evaluation. The selected agencies are part of an extensive countywide effort to bring evidence based services and results to clients. The overall outcome is to reduce the number of clients who return to jail thereby reducing the recidivism rate. Palm Beach County has over 25 law enforcement jurisdictions which leads to difficulties in data sharing, information sharing, and presents investigative coordination problems. Numerous times data, information and investigations involve similar suspects and crimes unknown to all the participating law enforcement agencies. To address these issues, Palm Beach County initiated the LEX project in 2004. This initial data sharing project has developed into a mature data sharing initiative that is part of the state FLEX program. Once the data sharing hurdle was passed, the LEX project expanded. This expansion has led to a comprehensive program adopted by all of the Chiefs of Police and the Sheriff's Office in Palm Beach County. This comprehensive program includes: -Data sharing -An information sharing process through a Bulletin system -Five (S) Regional intelligence sharing meetings per month -Case de-confliction -Crime trends and pattern identification -Moving crime information into law enforcement action To better address the financial requirements of the LEX expansion, the Chiefs of Police and Sheriff's Office in Palm Beach County created a non-profit organization called Palm Beach County Law Enforcement eXchange, Inc. (LEX). The LEX organization was created to establish an efficient and effective technology-enabled law enforcement enterprise system for enhancing the safety, security and quality of life for law enforcement personnel and citizens, under Florida Statute 163.63. The LEX Board of Directors (Chiefs of Police and Sheriff's Office of Palm Beach County) need an executive level position to coordinate the activities of the enhanced LEX program. At the present time there is no coordination on a countywide, multi-jurisdictional basis for regional intelligence sharing meetings, de-confliction, crime trends and pattern identification, and data sharing and information sharing issues. This position is being established by the non-profit LEX Board of Directors to provide overall coordination for the LEX Program to include data and information sharing, regional intelligence sharing meetings, case de-confliction, crime trends and pattern identification, and moving crime information into law enforcement action. This individual will coordinate on a countywide basis information sharing between 25 agencies, Paim Beach County Sheriff's Office, state and federal law enforcement at the county and municipal level. They will contract for the position to provide activities related to enabling Palm Beach County law enforcement to share information and coordinate activities in a countywide, multi jurisdictional fashion. Work is perFormed under the direction of the Chairman of the LEX Board of Directors, and is reviewed based on reports, conferences and results achieved. Work is performed in close communication and coordination with executives in the: Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Southeast Florida Fusion Center, municipal law enforcement agencies and other federal, state and local criminal justice organizations. The Director position will also coordinate activities with other LEX project staff at the Palm Beach County Information Systems Services Department. LEX is an organization comprised of criminaf justice agencies sharing information through a formalized network. It is designed to create inter-agency collaboration in an effort to enhance public safety in Palm Beach County. Through the information sharing process the LEX regions are able to: -Identify crime trends -Share information of criminal activity -Encourage countywide investigative cooperation -With the Fusion Center, encourage regional investigative cooperation -Enhance solvability of crimes through data and information sharing -Provide information to the State Attorney's Office, which may assist in establishing priorities and aid in successful prosecutions -Er�able and enhance data sharing and information sharing initiatives in Palm Beach County -Provide a countywide executive ievel overview of crime patterns The LEX Countywide Program Director position will be able to identify and communicate the processes, procedures and tools that are available to the various agencies, assist with deconfliction through the various systems that are in place, and assist agencies with coordinating resources when necessary.