Full_Commission
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 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