Title
Approve and authorize for the Sheriff to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges (CCCCO) via Hartnell Community College District (HCCD) for the provision of educational courses at the Monterey County Jail (MCJ) to incarcerated adult female and male offenders under the Sheriff’s Office supervision.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve and authorize for the Sheriff to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges (CCCCO) via Hartnell Community College District (HCCD) for the provision of educational courses at the Monterey County Jail (MCJ) to incarcerated adult female and male offenders under the Sheriff’s Office supervision.
SUMMARY:
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is recommending the approval for an interagency agreement to expand access to community college courses that lead to degrees and/or certificates that result in enhanced workforce skills or transfer to a four-year university. These college courses for inmates of the MCJ will serve to supplement, but not duplicate or supplant, any other adult education course opportunities offered at the MCJ.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to reflect Education Code, Section 84810.7(a) where it authorizes and directs the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges (CCCCO), to enter an interagency agreement to expand access to community college courses that lead to degrees or certificates that result in enhanced workforce skills or transfer to a four-year university. The courses for inmates in a correctional facility developed as a result of this agreement will serve to supplement, but not duplicate or supplant, any adult education course opportunities offered at that facility. MCJ and HCCD desire and agree to establish college courses by HCCD to be offered to inmates of MCJ. HCCD will be responsible for providing all instructors and incurring all costs for said instructors, instructor materials, and student assessment testing. HCCD will waive the student enrollment fees for all participating MCJ inmates. MCJ is responsible for the cost of inmate books which will be paid by the Inmate Welfare Fund (IWF). Additionally, these books will be recycled and shared with inmate students to further reduce costs to the IWF.
Senate Bill No. 1391, approved by the Governor of the State of California and filed with the Secretary of State on September 27, 2014, allows California Community Colleges (CCCs) to receive full funding for college credit-course instruction offered in correctional institutions, and seeks to expand the offering of such courses, to inmates at the MCJ. This legislation amends Education Code Section 84810.5, which waives open course provisions in statute or regulations to allow a community college district to provide classes to inmates at MCJ and, is in compliance with Penal Code Sections 2053 - 2054, to provide rehabilitative education services to California inmates.
This agreement shall become effective upon the execution by all parties and shall continue in effect unless terminated by one of the parties by at least 60 days written notice to the other party.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel, Auditor-Controller’s, and Risk Management have reviewed and approved this Agreement as to legal form, fiscal provisions, and insurance requirements, respectively.
FINANCING:
There is no increase in the General Fund Contribution as result of the approval of the recommendation. The costs of the estimated text books are included in the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Adopted Sheriff’s Office budget in the form of reimbursement by the IWF to the General Fund.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This MOU meets the Board’s strategic initiative for Public Safety and Health & Human Services by creating a safe environment for people to achieve their potential, leading business and communities to thrive and grow while reducing violent crime.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
_____ Economic Development
_____ Administration
__X__ Health & Human Services
_____ Infrastructure
__X__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Charles DaSilva, Programs Manager, Extension #3855
Approved by: Steve Bernal, Sheriff-Coroner, Extension #3856
Attachments: MOU between MCSO and Hartnell College