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Meeting Information



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MINUTES OF JULY 28, 1999 REGULAR MEETING

 

1.        Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:40 pm by Comm. Julian.     Comm. Hale,  Comm. Shimko,  Comm. Arámburo, Comm. Dupré were present at the gavel.  Comm. Jackson-Drake arrived at 5:45 pm. Comm. Chuck  arrived at 5:50 pm.

2.        Review of June 23,  1999  meeting  minutes

The minutes were approved as written.

3.     Chief Probation Officer's Report:

a.      Budget Information (Operations and Capital Improvement)

Ed Lopatin gave a short report on the final budget as passed by the Bd of Supervisors.  A one page summary was given to the Commissioners (available from Juvenile Probation Dept Finance office).  Basically it is a baseline budget, which continues to leave important capital improvements unattended and unfunded.  The General Fund portion of the budget was increased by 5.9%, due to salary standardization.   Other increases came from outside of the general fund (sources like Mayor's Criminal Justice Council)

Comm. Shimko asked about use of TANF funds. Are those items now being paid through General Funds and will they be shifted to TANF support?  Lopatin was unclear in answering. He said this was "our basic analysis".  Comm. Shimko thanked the Dept for their hard work through the budget process.

b.     Highlights of the month

Gwen Tucker mentioned the following highlights for the month:

·        the one day conference on Balanced/Restorative Justice, held last Friday. 

·        She reported that 11 POs have been hired.

·        The key control policy has begun, the Dept is awaiting the availability of the new keys.

·        There are 15 youth in LCR participating in a college preparatory program. 

·        The Dept held a management retreat at LCR, focusing on the topic of conflict resolution.

Tucker read two letters: one from Rev. Dunbar expressing appreciation for staff in their help during a performance in the chapel.  The second was from the guardian of a youth on probation, expressing appreciation for the sincere, personal care and help from POs given to their child

c.      Review of June monthly statistical data;

    d.    Emerging Issues/upcoming events

Tucker mentioned an update to be given in Sept. on the ProDes process, as well as a report on accomplishments of 1998-99 and the next action plan (for 1999-2000).

Comm. Hale mentioned that he wanted the Dept to be able to record and chronicle events such as the Disproportionate Minority Confinement, and Balanced/Restorative Justice conference, in video and still photos,  and that such records be available to the media. Comm. Julian also said that this outreach and publicity to the public is important so that people know what the Dept is up to.

4.     Discussion/Action Items:

a.      Consideration and possible action on Program Committee's recommendation to renew GIRL Initiative contract with Westside Mental Health Center.  (Hale)

Comm. Hale asked Comm. Arámburo to summarize the discussion held in Program Committee the day before (minutes of meeting, and report from the program available). 

Comm. Shimko commented that it would be much more effective to involve girls at an earlier age and stage in the process of juvenile justice.  She suggested that future outreach materials be much more detailed about the goals and activities of the Peer Leadership program.  She also asked about the possibility of making the program mandatory for those who enroll and not leave it an "open door" situation.

Comm. Arámburo  moved to approve the Program Committee's recommendation to renew the contract.  Comm. Dupré seconded.  The question was called and upon voice vote, the motion passed, 7-0.

b.     Consideration and possible action on Program Committee's recommendation to contract with Instituto Familiar de La Raza to provide services for the Intensive Home Based Supervision program.  (Hale)

Comm. Hale reviewed the situation behind the original contract with RAP for the Intensive Home Based Supervision program, and why it is being re written with Instituto (minutes from Program Committee available).  Comm. Shimko asked C. Bell if the Dept was confident that Instituto could successfully complete the requirements of the contract?  Yes.

It was asked whether this contract was to still be with RAP or Instituto?  Ans.  Instituto.

Comm. Hale moved to approve the Program Committee's recommendation to contract with Instituto.   Comm. Arámburo  seconded.  The question was called and upon voice vote, passed 7-0.

c.      Discussion of the Department's 1997-8 Annual Report (Shimko)

This item was tabled at the request of DCPO Tucker, to be taken up when CPO Williams returns from vacation. 

d.     Discussion of UC graduate students' paper on Community Assessment Referral Center. (Aramburo)

Comm. Julian recapped briefly the genesis of this issue.  Upon the release of this report, he had a meeting with the Chief and Assistant Chief.  They agreed that they would do a short term and long term response to this account.  On Chief Williams' initiative, along with Comm. Julian, , and Comm. Hale ,a meeting with Supervisor Yaki was arranged, where this report was discussed.  At the very least, Comm. Julian is confident that Supervisor Yaki now has a better understanding of the issues involved.  Comm. Julian commented that there are really 3 levels of perspective on this report.  First, the report itself, second the media's spin on it, and third, the political implications of its origins and motives. 

Comm. Arámburo said that some items deserve review: 1) why the low numbers served, and why referrals are not higher, 2) who IS in charge and the line of authority within the CARC.  

What is the process? Do they get referred up to YGC after CARC.  Comm. Arámburo said that the concept of having wrap around services at the front end, in an intake center not connected to secure detention is a more positive one and should be moved forward. ACPO G. Tucker stated that this was begun as a model project, with a limited service level. It is impossible to be the single point of entry for the juvenile justice system. 

Comm. Shimko said that much of the statements made in the report are not based on hard evidence, but are rather politically charged accusations.  Many of Dan McAllair's comments are also not based on facts.  Comm. Shimko commented that the local action plan had limits of service put on it so that an evaluation could be done to compare the impact on those who were served and those who were not.  The CARC is not a panacea for all the ills of the system.

Comm. Hale noted that there were no representatives from either Coleman Advocates or CJCJ in attendance.  He further took umbrage to McAllair's claims that the Commission (with African American representatives) would support or promote policies which continue the over detention of minority youth (especially African American).  He contended that the manipulation behind getting the report written as it was, was pure politics.  Comm. Hale said he was troubled with someone like McAllair, who constantly criticizes, who has never worked in a youth program, who has never been a partner in any kind of probation dept., who doesn't show up to these meetings nor send any representatives, but makes such wholesale comments and criticisms.  He hopes that McAllair will take some time to read the minutes of the Commission to see what it is trying to do, before he makes unsubstantiated claims. 

Comm. Julian commented that in all the years he's read graduate students' projects, he had yet to see one result in headline news.  The report itself had problems.  A particular note wasthe fact that the students were evaluating the CARC against a set of absolute standards.  While CARCs in general have had a short history, there are four other programs like the SF CARC, nationwide, against which this CARC should have been compared.

The report's statement that the CARC isn't getting the "biggest bang for the buck" is merely a political catch phrase to possibly throw criticism toward an administration for fiscal irresponsibility, during an election time.

Comm. Arámburo said that the bottom line IS why the numbers are down, and where is the coordination, from MCJC, Delancey St., the Dept?  This needs attention.  There also needs to be clearly communication to the public that the Dept. has more recently been emphasizing collaborations between community agencies and the Dept., and welcome even more dialog among all partners.

Comm. Chuck wanted to know who should be responsible for responding to such articles and issues.

Comm. Jackson-Drake commented that there were some points of value in the report that deserved to be addressed, but she felt the Department shouldn't be overly defensive in trying to respond.

Comm. Shimko admitted that the project has had its growing pains and that there are enough parties involved to share the burden of inadequacies and improvements, so we should redouble efforts to move forward, all around.

 

5.    Public Comment on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Juvenile

        Probation Commission.

        Clyde Livingston, a counselor from Juvenile Hall read a letter from Ulysses Madison, from SEIU local 790, regarding the Department's violations of various Civil Service rules in regards to hiring of counselors (8318 and 8320) and compensation for "lead workers" within the classifications.

        Comm. Julian referred the memo and matter to Asst. City Attorney John Kennedy for advisement.

6.    Unfinished business    None

7.       New business    Comm. Julian referred to a draft of a resolution of commendation for former Commissioner Terry Landini-Brennan, (requested from the Commission by the office of Supervisor Yee) that he asks to be discussed for possible action at the next Commission meeting.

8.    Adjournment    The meeting was adjourned at 7:26 pm.

 

                                                Approved August 25, 1999