Approve Job Description for Mental Health Program Coordinator, to Implement the County Attorney's Alternative Resolution Program with the Purpose of Directing Persons with Significant Mental Health Issues, Charged with Low Level or Nuisance Crimes, Out of the Criminal Justice System and into the Mental Health Treatment System.

As discussed during the Work Session on October 22, 2019, many residents with significant mental health issues get caught up in a cycle in the criminal justice system, sometimes spending a substantial time in jail, often for low level or nuisance offenses, and not receiving treatment for the mental health problems. In many instances the defendant is, or may be, incompetent to stand trial, resulting in a costly process (known as Rule 11) in which the defendant is evaluated for competency and sent to a very expensive (and ineffective) program to restore the defendant to competency in order to stand trial. Neither the defendant nor the community winds up being served, and the County foots the bill.

To address this, the County Attorney has proposed an Alternative Resolution Program in which the defendant is offered the opportunity to attend a mental health treatment program and, in return, the County Attorney will suspend prosecution, ultimately winding up in dismissal of the case if the defendant successfully completes the program.

To implement the Alternative Resolution Program, the County Attorney has proposed to establish the position of Mental Health Program Coordinator.  The Coordinator will gather data make recommendations to prosecutors as to the suitability of defendants for participation in the Program. For those admitted to the Program, the Coordinator will coordinate mental health treatment for them and connect them to mental health services, monitor and report their progress, and make recommendations to the prosecutor to dismiss or resume the criminal case.  Overall, the Coordinator will seek to achieve the purposes of the Alternative Resolution Program of reducing recidivism, improving the mental health of individuals, enhancing community safety, and saving the County money, both by reducing recidivism and the number of defendants ordered into costly Rule 11 restorations to competency.  The full job description is attached to this agenda item, along with a draft of the Application that a defendant seeking to be included in the program will be required to fill out and sign.

The proposed salary for the position of Mental Health Program Coordinator is $65,000 per year.  This is based on comparables that have been vetted and approved by the County's Budget Director, and takes into the account that the position will prefer a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology or Social Work (or related field) and that the position will be dealing with one of the most difficult populations.  The full budget for the position, taking into account ERE's, travel and training, will be $100,000 per year.  Since the position is expected to be filled for the last half of FY2019 to 2020, the cost for this fiscal year will be half that amount, or $50,000.  It is expected that the position will pay for itself, by reducing both recidivism and the number of very costly Rule 11 evaluations and restorations to competency.

The County Attorney and the Board should review the results of the Alternative Resolution Program on an annual basis, beginning with the end of fiscal year 2019-2020.
 

Submit the approved Job Description to the HR Director and Budget Director.  The HR Director then should post the position, with the goal of filling it by the beginning of calendar year 2020.

Defendants with significant mental health issues will continue to be caught up in a cycle in the criminal justice system, resulting in recidivism, reduced safety for the community, and substantial costs to the County.

Submit the approved Job Description to the HR Director, Budget Director, and County Attorney.