Minutes 02/25/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 25, 2020  In June 2019, DCJS awarded $557,246 in state general funds to the City of Portsmouth to provide local probation and pretrial services during FY2020. In September 2019, DCJS awarded an additional $10,081 to cover the cost associated with the 3% raise effective July 1, 2019, that was authorized in Item 474 (U) d. of the Act of Appropriations for FY2020. In December 2019, DCJS awarded the City $1,959 for local probation and pretrial staff development and/or the advancement of evidence-based practices (EBP). Discussion:  Community Corrections provides a comprehensive array of intermediate sanctions to the local courts as alternatives to incarceration in the city jail. Services include probation supervision, community service work, restitution, substance abuse assessment, testing and treatment, anger education, domestic violence intervention, and other services as requested by the courts. Between July 1, 2019, and December 2019, the program received 98 probationers for supervision. Our officers facilitated the collection of restitution to victims and court costs, and probationers completed 1,064 hours of community service work. Our officers facilitated 119 treatment referrals for services such as substance abuse testing education and/or counseling, batterers intervention, and parenting classes.  Between July 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019, pretrial investigators conducted 435 investigations on defendants held in the city jail. The pretrial appearance rate (defendants that complete supervision who do not have a capias issued for failure to appear in court) was 91%. The pretrial public safety rate (defendants that complete pretrial supervision who do not have their bail revoked due to a new arrest) was 92%. Financial Impact:  There is no local match and no obligation for continued funding from the City of Portsmouth. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The Finance Department will make the necessary budgetary adjustments. In addition, the Program Director will provide grant management and oversight. Motion by Mr. Clark, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,959 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS IN THE FY 2020 GRANTS FUND TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO OPERATE LOCAL PROBATION AND PRETRIAL SERVICES IN THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH.” Ayes: Clark, Glover, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Rowe Nays: None 20 - 81 - Adoption of an ordinance (1) accepting a grant in the amount of $70,304.52 from the Office of Emergency Medical Services and appropriating said funds in the FY 2020 Grants Fund Budget and (2) transferring $70,304.52 from the FY 2020 Information Technology Fund Budget to the FY 2020 Grants Fund Budget to serve as the required local match for the said grant. Background:  Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) is a nationwide effort to to have trained public safety telecommunicators, using locally approved EMD software, quickly and properly determine the nature and priority of the call, dispatch the appropriate resource, and then give the caller instructions to assist the patient until first responders arrive.  The Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) is providing a grant for obtainining EMD Software licenses.