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(DISCUSSION) Report from the Chief on overall status of programming for upcoming fiscal year.
The Chief reviewed each division: JH is addressing the WC/OT issues. The loaner staff from Muni and the newly hired 1244 will be working on WC. They had 17 on WC, and got it down to 11 now. Staffing is done by a single staff now, and not by supervisors. OT has been reduced by that. They now have 10 on-call counselors on a list. They tested in Feb. and are now doing background checks on 20.
B. Johnston described the re organizing of staffing to expedite getting youth out of detention. The Chief commented that in response to the Mayor’s request that management voluntarily reduce their salaries to help the City’s deficit, she said that she and Bill Johnston were doing two jobs, and not getting paid for them, so they’d be happy to give up 50% of the money they weren’t getting.
B. Johnston said that their ‘re organization’ is an emphasis to do a lot of work up front in order to process youth out quicker. That is why they asked for more support for home detention services, and home based supervision.
He commented that they do want to get POs out into the communities more, but they need to pay attention to the POs’ safety (they now have vests to wear). Comm Richard also agreed that POs need to be out in the community more.
Comm Queen asked about the serious offender unit and if they could be stationed out in the communities. B. Johnston reviewed the staffing for him. The Chief said that they need to be in court so can’t be put out in the communities. She said that on a limited basis, POs are out in some community locations. Maybe in the future, POs can be assigned to particular CBOs. Comm Richard commented that perhaps POs should be required to meet with CBOs that their charges are enrolled with, so that they have a continuous relationship with them. The Chief agreed that CBOs and POs need to be partners in serving the youth.
Comm Queen suggested that dialog has not been open between the community and POs, and perhaps such a dialog needs to be set up between them to open up the communication lines.
The Chief commented that what has been happening around LCR is pretty well known via the notes from the Ad Hoc Committee work. She reiterated their plans to create a ‘furlough’ program that will put the youth back in the community while still completing the LCR term.
There was a short discussion regarding more support for vocational programs, and the problem of sustaining them because the distance wears on the instructors and ultimately they stop coming. LJ Simpson mentioned her efforts to get PIC to keep supporting Ranch kids, and she referred to a meeting of their PIC Youth Council, next Tuesday. She also mentioned a “carryover” fund of unspent monies, which she is encouraging them to access to serve Ranch kids. She said they (PIC) will establish a group of “qualified providers” for capacity building, and when that is done, the Dept may be able to “purchase” services from that pool of providers.
Comm Queen asked LJ Simpson to put that explanation into a brief “executive summary” so that lay people could understand it. She agreed to.
The Chief also mentioned that they re hired the former contractor as a city worker, and will come back to do the programming for the JJIS. He was hired April 5.
Comm Queen reported briefly on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on LCRS. The work is continuing.
The Chief was asked if the they had worked out any concrete plans for the change of job descriptions so we can draw more Title IVe funds. Ans: No.
(public comments)
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