Title
a. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey for participation of four County agencies in the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) grant for the period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017; and
b. Authorize the Chair to sign Amendments to the MOU as required by the grant in case of extension.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey for participation of four County agencies in the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) grant for the period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017; and
b. Authorize the Chair to sign Amendments to the MOU as required by the grant in case of extension.
SUMMARY:
The State’s office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has approved a continuation grant award in the amount of $449,000 for the period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 to sustain and expand an existing evidence-based DUI Court program.
The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey serves as the lead agency for the collaboration, which includes county agencies, such as Probation, District Attorney, Public Defender and Health Department-Behavioral Health Bureau.
DISCUSSION:
The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey had been awarded a grant in the amount of $350,000 for the period October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016 to initiate an evidence-based DUI Court program. The program has received continuation funding in the amount of $449,000 for the period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 to sustain and expand the existing program.
The DUI Court program focuses on high-risk multiple DUI offenders, holding them accountable for their actions and instituting a protocol to facilitate lasting behavioral changes, which include regular testing for substance use, participation in self-help meetings or court-approved treatment programs, and close supervision by Probation and Behavioral Health staff and other service providers.
The DUI Court program addresses the challenge of repeat-offense drunk drivers through a program based on the Drug Court model. The target population has been identified as clients convicted of two or more DUIs who have a chemical addiction, but are not charged as felons. The Court’s first priority is to provide chemically addicted offenders with treatment and supervision.
The Grant funds the salary and benefits for the existing 1.00 FTE Probation Officer II in Probation to provide supervision and monitoring, as well as testing supplies, and the existing 1.00 FTE Psychiatric Social Worker II and 0.05 FTE Case Manager III, as well as supplies at the Health Department-Behavioral Health Bureau for assessments, referrals and case management.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Court’s application for the OTS Grant was developed in consultation with the involved County agencies. The District Attorney, Public Defender, the Health Director and the Chief of Probation have all reviewed the MOU and recommend its approval. County Counsel has approved the MOU as for legal form.
FINANCING:
Probation and Health have been allocated a total of $435,633 from the $449,000 one-year grant funding, specifically: $218,121 to Probation and $217,512 to Health-Behavioral Health Bureau.
The Court has been allocated $13,367 for travel expenses for members of the DUI court team to attend the National Association of Drug Court professionals (NADCP) Conference in Maryland.
The services of the Public Defender and Deputy District Attorneys are not reimbursable under the OTS Grant. There is no additional County General Fund Contribution (GFC) associated with the current recommended action.
Prepared by: Marisa Fiori, Management Analyst III, ext. 1100
Approved by: Marcia Parsons, Chief Probation Officer, ext. 3913
Approved by: Dean Flippo, District Attorney, ext. 5470
Approved by: Frank Dice, Interim Public Defender, ext. 3552
Approved by: Elsa Jimenez, Health Director, ext. 4526
Attachments:
DUI Grant MOU 10/01/16 to 09/30/17