Authorize the Chief of Probation to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Yolo Superior Court of California for the SB129 Pretrial Expansion program for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028 in the amount of $539,007 for the current fiscal year, with funding for additional years dependent on Judicial Council allocations. (No general fund impact) (Fruchtenicht)

Authorize the Chief of Probation to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Yolo Superior Court of California for the SB129 Pretrial Expansion program for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028 in the amount of $539,007 for the current fiscal year, with funding for additional years dependent on Judicial Council allocations. 

On December 7, 2021, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Chief Probation Officer to enter into an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Yolo Superior Court of California to receive annual funding to enhance the County’s existing pretrial program which ended June 30, 2024.  This MOU is a multi-year agreement which will renew that program with the term beginning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028. The MOU facilities the Probation Department's implementation of SB 129.

California Senate Bill 129 amended the Budget Act of 2021 to allocate $140,000,000 “to the Judicial Council to fund the implementation and operation of ongoing court programs and practices that promote the safe, efficient, fair and timely pretrial release of individuals booked into jail. The purpose of this funding is to provide courts with information and resources to support: (a) judicial officers in making pretrial decisions that impose the least restrictive conditions to address public safety and return to court; and (b) implementation of appropriate monitoring practices and provision of services for released individuals.”

SB129 requires the Judicial Council of California to distribute this funding to 58 California courts and county supervision agencies, providing them with the resources necessary to assist judicial officers in making pretrial release decisions based on the least restrictive conditions, while ensuring public safety.  County supervision agencies and community-based organizations that counties might contract with for pre-trial services are required to implement appropriate monitoring practices and pretrial services programs for released individuals.