Okaloosa County BOCC — 2013 meeting #1144 (date undetermined) — 3-6a Pretrial Services — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA SERVICE AREA: COURT SERVICES DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: PRETRIAL SERVICES PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Pretrial Services provides the Judiciary with critical and timely information to assist them in making informed decisions on bond at the defendant’s first court appearance. By providing this information, Pretrial Services facilitates the release of persons arrested, minimizes failures to appear in court and the potential danger to the community. Pretrial Services assists in managing the jail population by reducing incarcerations that could result in jail overcrowding and the need for a jail expansion. REVENUE: The Pretrial Services Program is funded in the General Fund. Supporting revenue of the General Fund are ad valorem taxes, communications service tax, local business tax, permits and fees, state shared revenue, charges for services, judgments and fines, miscellaneous revenue and transfers from other funds and Pretrial Services electronic monitoring fees. EXPENDITURES: Expenditures Budget FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 Category Actual $ Actual $ Original $ Approved $ Personal Services 234,489 232,209 225,200 281,643 Operating Expenses 49,684 43,125 44,642 63,997 Capital Outlay 0 0 0 5,844 Other 0 0 0 0 Total 284,173 275,334 269,842 351,484 HISTORICAL STAFFING SUMMARY: Category FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 Full-time 4 4 4 5 Part-Time 0 0 0 0 Relief 0 0 0 0 Total 4 4 4 5 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR:  Screened a total of 6,162 defendants at First Appearance for Pretrial Release, Mental Health Court, Veteran’s Court, and Drug Court referrals, and provided verified reports to the Judiciary which resulted in a total of 1121 additional defendants for Pretrial supervision.  Served a monthly average of 50 defendants and supervised a monthly average of 37 defendants by Mental Health Pretrial Officer and provided initial assessments, reports to the judges, and referrals for appropriate mental health treatment. Provided information to the Public Defender and Asst. State Attorney on the defendant’s mental health issues and treatment status, referrals to Mental Health Court program and Veteran’s Court Program, and referrals to other community resources. Practiced and implemented HIPPA Laws as they pertain to case files, documentation, and storage of defendant files.  Supervised a monthly average of 10 defendants on electronic monitoring program and recouped a total of $24,503.89 in fees for 2012. PROGRAM GOAL: Assist in reducing jail population by providing judiciary verified information at first appearance and facilitate the release of defendants to reduce incarcerations. To reduce potential dangers to residents of Okaloosa County by supervision and referrals to other court programs such as Drug Court, Veterans Court and Mental Health treatment programs, as well as minimize failures to appear in court KEY OBJECTIVES: 1. To develop programs to permit Judiciary to maximize the rate of release for persons arrested and accused of crimes: a. First Appearance Screening Reviews – Provide Judiciary with verified information to assist them in making informed decisions on determining appropriate bond. b. Pretrial Services Supervision Program – Minimize potential danger to community posed by defendants released on bond and minimize failures to appear by ensuring strict adherence to court ordered conditions of release. c. Drug Court Screening and Referrals – Facilitate release from custody for persons arrested on felony drug charges into diversionary drug treatment program. d. Mental Health Assessment, Supervision, and Case Management- Provide Judiciary with adequate results of Mental Health Evaluation to assist in making informed decisions on setting bonds. Ensure defendants are referred to proper Mental Health Treatment as well as ensure they follow all recommended treatment to reduce future incarceration and ensure safety of the community. e. Electronic Monitoring Program – Minimize potential danger to the community by providing a measure of protection to the victims and provides an alternative to incarceration. f. Bond Reviews – Provide updated verified information to the Judiciary, and recommend alternative conditions of release on individuals who remain incarcerated and unable to post bond. 2. Assist Judiciary by providing weekly input on persons who remain incarcerated on misdemeanor offenses, which allows for early disposition of their cases. 3. Maintain a collaborative relationship with all other agencies involved in the Judicial process PERFORMANCE MEASURES: Actual Estimated Adopted Performance Measures FY11/12 FY12/13 FY13/14 Number of Full time PTS personnel 4 4 5 Input Number of Grant Personnel (included in Budget operating 3 3 2 expenditures) Total Operating Expenditures 63,919 64,723 63,997 Supervised by GPS Monitoring (monthly average) 10 10 10 Output Supervised by one (1) MH PTS Officer (monthly average) 60 30 30 Defendants assessed/interviewed by PTS 6,164/1149 5937/1033* 6162/1121** officers Supervised Defendants with FTA rates below 3% 100% 100% 100% Efficiency Jail population remains below the maximum capacity 100% 100% 100% Assist Judiciary at first appearance 365 days a year 100% 100% 100% Keep FTA’S at below 5% 2.6% 2.9%* 4% Reduced jail population 100% 100% 100% Assists Judiciary in making bond decisions 365 days/year 100% 100% 100% *01/01/11-12/31/11 Annual Legislative Report ** 01/01/12-12/31/12 Annual Legislative Report