SR-701-006-03 (4)
PD:JTB:DA:F\\police\share\staffrpt\2003_jaibg-join staff rpt.doc
City Council Meeting: September 23, 2003 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the Release of Funds Available to the City of Santa
Monica Under the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG)
Program to the County of Los Angeles to Support Continued Operation of
the Juvenile Offender Intervention (JOIN) Program in Santa Monica
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution to release to the County
of Los Angeles the City?s share of funds available under the Juvenile Accountability
Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG) Program. The funds will be used by Los Angeles County to
pay the salary and benefits expenses of a Hearing Officer for the continued operation of
the Juvenile Offender Intervention Network (JOIN) Program in Santa Monica.
Background
The Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG) program is a federally funded
program administered at the state level. In California, the Governor?s Office of Criminal
Justice Planning (OCJP) has statewide responsibility for JAIBG program operation and
distributes JAIBG funds to local agencies. JAIBG funds may be used only for juvenile
justice programs that qualify within one of twelve specified purpose areas.
In 1994, the Los Angeles District Attorney?s Office recognized the need for early
intervention with minors arrested for petty, non-violent first time offenses. Those minors
typically received inadequate attention from the juvenile justice system. The crimes with
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which they were charged were considered too serious for WIC Section 654 probation, yet
not serious enough to be set for court. Without effective intervention, recidivism is likely.
With this in mind, the Juvenile Offender Intervention Network (JOIN) was implemented in
Los Angeles County.
The District Attorney?s Office idea was simple: Divert first-time offenders from the juvenile
court process into a program that would offer immediate intervention and accountability for
behavioral improvement. The JOIN program is currently used in the Los Padrinos, Long
Beach and Inglewood Juvenile offices. Local agencies involved in the program currently
include Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, Lawndale and El Segundo. For the
past five years, Santa Monica has released its JAIBG allocations to the County of Los
Angeles, to help pay costs for a dedicated juvenile hearing officer who administers the
JOIN program in Santa Monica.
Discussion
The proposed use meets JAIBG program guidelines, which stipulate that the funds must be
targeted to juvenile accountability in the criminal justice system. The City is eligible to
receive an allocation of $42,726 for FY 2003-2004, and it is that amount of funding which
is recommended for transfer to the County of Los Angeles.
To continue operation of the JOIN Program in Santa Monica during FY 2003-2004, it is
necessary to formally transfer the right to receive the $42,726 of JAIBG funding from the
City of Santa Monica to the County of Los Angeles. The attached resolution authorizes
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that transfer.
Budget/Fiscal Impact
The recommendation presented in this report does not have a budget or financial impact,
since the City will not actually receive the JAIBG funds.
ecommendation
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Staff recommends that the City council adopt the attached Resolution transferring the
City?s right to receive $42,726 in Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG)
program funds to the County of Los Angeles to be used for the purpose of hiring a Hearing
Officer for the continued operation of the Juvenile Offender Intervention Network (JOIN)
program in Santa Monica during FY 2003-2004.
Prepared by: James T. Butts, Jr., Chief of Police
Attachment - See Adopted Resolution No. 9892 (CCS)
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