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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 1, 2015 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 7-a <br /> SUBJECT: Jail Alternatives Work Group Report <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Memorandum Regarding Organizational Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager, <br /> Placement of Jail Alternative Programs 919-245-2308 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive a Memorandum Regarding Organizational Placement of Jail Alternative <br /> Programs, which was developed to analyze and recommend an organizational structure for jail <br /> alternative programs operated by Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: The FY 2015-16 Budget authorizes the County to hire three (3) County staff <br /> to administer jail alternative programs. The recommended budget contemplated that the jail <br /> alternative positions would be part of the Sheriff's Office. However, that recommendation <br /> received scrutiny during budget deliberations, and the Board of Orange County Commissioners <br /> asked for further consultation with stakeholders prior to making a final determination on <br /> organizational placement. The Memorandum Regarding Organizational Placement of Jail <br /> Alternative Programs is the culmination of additional stakeholder outreach, consideration, and <br /> research. <br /> The Memorandum contains the following key findings: <br /> • The Pretrial Services and Drug Court Programs are currently contracted out to two <br /> different vendors. <br /> • The Programs represent a significant investment by the County in alternatives to <br /> incarceration and are viewed as important tools to help reduce population pressure in the <br /> jail, failures to appear in court, and recidivism. <br /> • Supporters of the current Pretrial Services model endorse the independence of the <br /> program, adherence to best practices, efficiency, and long standing relationships with <br /> treatment providers and program participants. <br /> • Stakeholders generally agree, however, that the programs would benefit from <br /> internalization. An internalized model could improve stability and a sense of <br /> permanency, increase accountability by focusing on day to day service delivery, foster <br /> greater collaboration with other County services like mental health and employment, <br />