Receive update on planning related to contracting for out-of-county juvenile detention services. (No general fund impact) (Fruchtenicht)

Receive an update on planning and proactive efforts the Probation Department has made to secure a contract for out-of-county juvenile detention services, and short-term obstacles to meeting this objective.

	Safe Communities
	County Mandated Service

Background
Given the trend of a low population in the Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF), contrasted with the high cost of operating the JDF – funds which could be better utilized to serve more youth in Yolo County – the Board of Supervisors directed staff on September 14, 2021 to negotiate with another county for detention services.  Since then, the Probation Department’s Management Team has been meeting bi-weekly to plan and prepare for contracting for out-of-county juvenile detention services, and ultimately closing the JDF.
 
JDF Closure Planning
The Management Team has developed a multi-pronged Action Plan with the following categories:

• Contract with adjacent county for detention services
• Develop processes related to contracting for detention services, i.e., how will Yolo staff communicate and work with another county; what would a visitation program look like for Public Defenders, Probation Officers, visitors and volunteers
• Develop related field and supervision processes, i.e., cite & release protocols developed in partnership with local law enforcement; supervision protocols
• Develop a 24/7 transportation program for detained youth
• Demobilize the Juvenile Detention Facility, i.e., remove public references such as signage; re-purpose furniture and equipment

The physical location of another county’s Juvenile Detention Facility will certainly impact the operations of the Probation Department, but also local law enforcement, public defenders and the youth’s support systems ranging from visitors to volunteers.  We aim to have systems in place from the start to mitigate the impacts on local law enforcement related to transferring youth out-of-county, and to bring representation and supports directly to the youth, as needed.

A key component of achieving this goal will be expanding the Department’s transportation program.  A 12-hour schedule for staff has been developed to provide 24/7 transport, as well as opportunity to meet other Department objectives when not transporting.  The Department is now defining the duties of an expanded transportation program; identifying vehicle, equipment and uniform needs; and preparing to train staff accordingly.  We are also identifying where staff will be physically stationed and whether workspaces throughout the department may need to be modified.

Looking ahead on the planning front, we realize there will be a multi-stepped demobilization process for the JDF.  We are inventorying furniture, equipment and supplies and are preparing for all the demobilization steps from updating the website to modifying contracted services.

The Management Team’s top priority, however, is to contract with an adjacent county which is best suited to provide robust programs and services to Yolo County’s youth.  On-going discussions with adjacent counties have included the following topics:

• Services provided and the cost for those services
• Number of beds needed
• Planning for catastrophic medical services, if needed
• Impacts of opening additional pods should the population expand due to an increase in either our population or their population
• Ability to bring in contracted services from Yolo County providers (i.e., YoloArts) and volunteers
• Rights of refusal, i.e. timeframe for picking up recalcitrant youth

As conversations have been initiated and continue with adjacent counties, the team has also considered the impacts to staff once the JDF is closed.  In an effort to limit, and hopefully avoid lay-offs altogether, vacancies have been held in probation operations in hopes that some of these vacancies can be filled by displaced detention staff.  Additionally, we anticipate utilizing current detention staff to round out the expanded transportation operation. 
 
Obstacles to Contracting in the Short-Term
While conversations with adjacent counties have been productive, a contract remains elusive.  This appears in part to be due to a few outstanding issues i.e., fiscal, rights of refusal, contract term, etc.  Additionally, counties are hard-pressed to devote the resources at this time to contract negotiations and planning due to the following factors:

• With the passage of Senate Bill 823, every county is now having to find an alternative solution for youth that previously would have been sentenced to the State’s Division of Juvenile Justice.  Counties are in the midst of determining how to provide secure rehabilitative services for this population.
   
• With the complexities of keeping youth and staff safe and healthy in the midst of a pandemic, now exacerbated with the more virulent Omicron variant, counties are finding it difficult to staff day-to-day operations and do not have extra capacity for planning at this time.
   
• This past summer, the Board of State & Community Corrections modified their facility inspection processes to increase accountability and transparency.  Preparing for and responding to results of enhanced inspections is also limiting current capacity.

Next Steps
Despite these obstacles, the Department remains hopeful that a contract for out-of-county detention services is obtainable.  Still, the Department must tread lightly and remain patient as all counties grapple with a significant shift in the juvenile justice environment and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Department of Financial Services, County Counsel