SACRAMENTO (Nov. 17, 2016) – A pilot project in which law enforcement officers can divert people involved in low-level drug crimes and prostitution to treatment and counseling rather than booking them into jail moved forward today with approval of the blueprint for funding equirements.

The Board of State and Community Corrections approved release of the Request for Proposals for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, which is based on a similar program operating in Seattle, Washington. Senate Bill 843 provides $15 million for up to three jurisdictions to make treatment, counseling, housing and other services available to willing individuals instead of prosecution.
The dual goals of the program are to reduce costs associated with incarceration and prosecution by diverting low-level offenders to programs  designed to help them turn around their lives. An evaluation of the program is due to the Governor and Legislature by Jan. 1, 2020.

The RFP will be posted Nov. 18, 2016 to www.bscc.ca.gov.

In other action the Board:

– Approved for submittal to the Office of Administrative Law adult regulation revisions to Titles 15 and 24, which govern local jail design and operation. Changes include recognition that long-term incarcerated individuals must receive regular preventative healthcare exams and incorporation of more comprehensive suicide prevention measures.

– Appointed Board Members David Steinhart and Michelle Brown to co-chair the Titles 15 and 24 regulation revision process for local juvenile detention facilities.

– Implemented Senate Bill 1004, a pilot project that allows juvenile facilities in Alameda, Butte, Napa, Nevada and Santa Clara counties to hold select young people ages 18 to 22 rather than placing them in adult facilities. BSCC staff has met with participants in the Deferred Entry of Judgment Pilot Program to ensure the counties comply with criteria mandating that these young adults be housed, supervised and receive programming completely separate from others in the facility.

– Heard an update on efforts by the BSCC’s Standards and Training for Corrections division to revamp training requirements for adult and juvenile corrections officers and probation officers to reflect changes in policies and technology.

– Approved membership of an Executive Steering Committee that by April 2017 will develop the Request for Proposals for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.

More information about all of today’s Board actions is available here:
http://www.bscc.ca.gov/s_bsccboardmeeting111716