Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2019 Council Approved Budget and Accept and Appropriate the 2018-2019 Comprehensive Community Corrections Act and Pretrial Services Act Grant Awarded through the Hampton-Newport News Criminal Justice Agency Awarded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this resolution is to accept and appropriate local grant funds and certain in-kind services to permit continuation of local based community corrections and pretrial services.
Discussion:
The Comprehensive Community Corrections Act for Local-Responsible Offenders, Section 9.1-173, et. seq., of the Code of Virginia, allows the City of Hampton to provide a variety of sentencing options to the Hampton General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts. These services have been continually available in the City of Hampton since 1983, providing the judicial system with sentencing alternatives for certain misdemeanors and persons convicted of non-violent felonies.
The Hampton-Newport News Criminal Justice Agency (HNNCJA) provides local probation supervision services to offenders sentenced by the Hampton and Newport News Courts. Additional components, including community service, batterer’s intervention, anger management, substance abuse assessment and treatment and shop lifting groups, are added as special conditions ordered by the Courts or by the Probation Officer. Offenders are referred to worksites to perform unpaid work as an alternative form of sanctioning and as an alternative to payment of court costs and fines for indigent offenders. A variety of substance abuse tests and treatment services are available ranging from on-site testing to intensive outpatient treatment.
The Hampton-Newport News Criminal Justice Agency Pretrial Services Program, which was established pursuant to the Pretrial Services Act, Section 19.2-152.2, et. seq., of the Code of Virginia, provides background investigations on defendants who are appearing before the Courts at their initial appearance and subsequent bond hearing so the Courts may make more informed pretrial incarceration and release decisions. The program also provides supervised release for defendants while awaiting trial. These services include thorough screening, risk assessment of pretrial detainees, and supervision including substance abuse assessment, testing, and treatment of eligible pretrial defendants.
Impact:
The City of Hampton has provided cash contributions annually since FY95. Local funds requested in the amount of $35,481 cash match and $4,439 in-kind match from the City of Hampton.
Any loss in current funding from the City will also result in the loss of HNNCJA personnel. If this occurs, caseloads will increase to levels where our officers become ineffective. Currently the average caseload for the HNNCJA is 160-165 per officer which is considered high. Should the HNNCJA have to eliminate officers, caseloads will become 190 or higher, which will affect our officers’ ability to fully use their evidence based practices skills, and will increase recidivism. Currently our court appearance rate is 92% which is among the highest in the state. The HNNCJA is the only agency that services adults sentenced by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts, and it is the only agency where the courts can send, other than jail, those charged with misdemeanors. CJA provides a tremendous cost savings over incarceration for Pretrial appropriate defendants. Commonwealth of Virginia Compensation Board reported that in FY 15 the cost per day to house a person in the Hampton City Jail was $70.37 per day. Pretrial cost to supervise a person is only $6.35 per day.
Recommendation:
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the Hampton-Newport News Criminal Justice Agency has received award notification from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services on their allocation amount for the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act and Pretrial Services Act Grant, for $1,944,861 in State funds; $35,481 cash match and $4,439 In-kind match from the City of Hampton; $52,520 cash match and $98,672 In-Kind match from the City of Newport News; and, $32,622 in client supervision fees; and
WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton accepts and appropriates the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act and Pretrial Services Act Grant award in the amount $1,944,861 in State funds; $35,481 cash match and $4,439 in-kind match from the City of Hampton; $52,520 cash match and $98,672 in-kind match from the City of Newport News; and $32,622 in client supervision fees expected to be collected during this grant period, for a total award of $2,168,595, and any supplemental funding, to the Grant Fund for the pupose of funding comprehensie community corrections and pretrial services in accordance with the grant award.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all necessary steps to implement this grant award.