Title
a. Accept a federal grant award in the amount of $400,000 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Monterey County Veterans Treatment Court Enhancement Project, retroactively for the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020; and
b. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to sign all related documents as required by the grant; and
c. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Monterey County Superior Court for participation in the Veterans Treatment Court.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Accept a federal grant award in the amount of $400,000 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Monterey County Veterans Treatment Court Enhancement Project, retroactively for the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020; and
b. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to sign all related documents as required by the grant; and
c. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Monterey County Superior Court for participation in the Veterans Treatment Court.
SUMMARY:
The US Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has approved a grant award in the amount of $400,000 for the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020 to enhance the existing evidence-based Veterans Treatment Court.
The Monterey County Probation Department serves as the lead agency and administrator for the grant, a long-term multi-disciplinary collaborative of professionals which include the Court Presiding Judge, Probation Officer, District Attorney, Public Defender/ Private Counsel, Behavioral Health Therapist, and the Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, working cohesively to support rehabilitation and accountability for program participants.
DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) began in early 2016 as a voluntary program pursuant to PC 1170.9 to provide judicial officers with the option of sentencing veterans to treatment and probation instead of prison or jail.
Funding in the amount of $400,000 for the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020 has been awarded to enhance the program with: 1) the addition of a dedicated Deputy Probation Officer assigned to the VTC, and 2) support and housing services to veterans provided by a community-based organization, the Veterans Transition Center of Monterey County.
The Veterans Treatment Court program focuses on veteran 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 VTC addresses the special circumstances of veteran offenders through a program based on the Ten Key Components therapeutic model specified by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). The target population has been identified as veteran offenders supported by medical evidence that connect the veteran’s mental health/medical issue and military service. The Court’s first priority is to provide chemically addicted offenders with treatment and supervision.
The MOU identifies roles and responsibilities between Monterey County Superior Court and the Probation Department to support the grant’s goals. The grant funds the salary and benefits for one (1) 1.00 FTE Deputy Probation Officer position in Probation to provide supervision and monitoring, as well as office supplies, travel related to training and equipment.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Probation’s application for the Veterans Court Treatment Grant was developed in consultation with the Superior Court and other participating agencies. County Counsel has approved the MOU as to legal form.
FINANCING:
Sufficient appropriations to fund the Deputy Probation Officer position are available in the FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget and the Department is utilizing an existing vacant position from a prior grant. The remaining funding will be included in the subsequent years’ budgets. Probation does not anticipate increasing revenues and appropriations at this time.
The services of the Superior Court personnel are not reimbursable under the VTC Grant, but will contribute a portion of the required in-kind match. There is no additional County General Fund Contribution (GFC) associated with the current recommended action.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This recommendation to provide services to veteran offenders supports key objectives of: 1) Health and Human Services by providing access to County and community-based services that offer treatment and support service, and 2) Public Safety by encouraging self-sustainability, a stable environment, and successful reintegration into the community.
__Economic Development
__Administration
_X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
_X Public Safety
Prepared by: Wendi Reed, Management Analyst II, ext. 3985
Approved by: Marcia Parsons, Chief Probation Officer, ext. 3913
Attachments:
Veterans Treatment Court Grant MOU 10/01/17 to 09/30/20
Cc: Monterey County Superior Court