Agenda - 04-13-2004-5m - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 13, 2004 Action Agen a Item No. SUBJECT: Orange-Chatham Alternative Sentencing Funding Request DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Letter from Joyce Kuhn Sharron Hinton, ext, 2300 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To approve a $12,000 funding request from Orange-Chatham Alternative Sentencing for continuation of pre-trial release services, BACKGROUND: The pre-trial release program is a component of the NC Department of Correction Criminal Justice Partnership Program (C.JPP). As fiscal agent, Orange County has contracted with Orange-Chatham Alternative Sentencing (OCAS) since 1994 for implementation of the pre-trial release program, This program assists the 15B judicial district by identifying and monitoring eligible candidates from the Orange and Chatham County jails in an effort to minimize or reduce jail overcrowding. The pre-trial release program is operated primarily by CJPP funds with the County contributing another $2,125 in local dollars, Since FY 2000-2001, the program has encountered state funding reductions totaling $22,000. Last fiscal year, the Board approved an additional allocation of $20,000 (from the Social Safety Net) to maintain program operations throughout the year, Due to state reductions, the program continues to suffer a shortfall and is again requesting assistance from the County. It is estimated that the program needs an additional $12,000 to operate through ,June 2004, The program anticipates serving approximately 180- 200 clients. Although the program addresses the needs of both counties, OCAS staff reports that the majority of service delivery occurs in Orange County, with approximately a 75/25 split, OCAS staff also indicates that Chatham County has not committed any additional dollars for this effort, FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds from the County's Social Safety Net may be used to support this request. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the request and authorize staff to appropriate the $12,000 from the Social Safety Net fund.