Minutes 09/14/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 14, 2021 - City Manager’s Report - 21 - 261 - Adoption of ordinance accepting a grant in the amount of $14,903 from the Department of Criminal Justice Services and appropriating said funds in the FY 2022 Grants Fund to provide funding to operate local probation and pretrial services in the City of Portsmouth. Background:  Local community-based probation agencies were created in 1995 by the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act (CCCA, §9.1-173 COV). They were created to provide an alternative to incarceration for persons convicted of certain misdemeanors or non-violent felonies for which sentences would be 12 months or less in a local or regional jail.  In 1995, Pretrial Services Agencies were authorized by statute with the passage of the Pretrial Services Act (PSA, § 19.2-152.2 COV). Pretrial services agencies provide information and investigative services to judicial officers to help them decide whether persons charged with certain offenses and awaiting trial need to be held in jail or can be released to their communities subject to supervision.  State funding enables Portsmouth Community Corrections and Pretrial Services to provide quality supervision to defendants and non-violent offenders in the community and directly impact the jail population. 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, 2020, and May 31, 2021, the program received 149 placements for supervision. Our officers facilitated the collection of restitution to victims and court costs, and probationers completed 1,024 hours of community service work. Our officers facilitated 139 treatment referrals for services such as substance abuse testing education and/or counseling, batterers intervention, and parenting classes.  Between July 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, pretrial investigators screened 810 defendants being held in the city jail. Pretrial officers conducted 410 full investigations on defendants held in the city jail and provided the courts with an additional 401 criminal history reports. During this same period, the pretrial appearance rate (defendants that complete supervision who do not have a capias issued for failure to appear in court) was 96%. The pretrial public safety rate (defendants that complete pretrial supervision who do not have their bail revoked due to a new arrest) was 93%. Financial Impact:  There is no local match and no obligation for continued funding from the City of Portsmouth. Recommended Action:  Adoption of 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. 1. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, asked for the income and expense report on how funds are being spent. Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: