|
Back to Calendar
Return
|
| ARF- 4226 |
Regular Agenda Item 3. F.
|
| Regular BOS Meeting |
|
|
|
| Information |
| Request/Subject |
| Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Pinal County Justice Center to house and treat detained juveniles. |
| Background Information |
With the pending closure of the Gila County Juvenile Detention Center, Gila County Probation has been transporting juveniles in need of detention to the Pinal County Youth Justice Center (Detention Center). Pinal County leadership has agreed to, and drafted an IGA for Gila County consideration, to detain juveniles (effective January 4, 2017) for Gila County Superior Court, or needing to be detained in the future for the next three (3) years. Pinal County is proposing a daily rate of incarceration per juvenile.
The need to detain juveniles in Gila County has declined substantially over the past five (5) years and this trend is consistent throughout the State of Arizona and nationally. Keeping the Globe Detention Center open for very few or no juveniles is not fiscally sustainable in terms of personnel needed 24/7, minimum staffing standards to keep the facility open, and infrastructure costs in including much needed improvements. The Superior Court and all stakeholders involved support the Pinal County IGA and the closing of the detention center. |
| Evaluation |
It costs over $1.3 million to run and maintain the Globe Detention Center (infrastructure, operations and personnel). With periods of time with no juveniles, or one or two, running a full staff of twenty (20,) and a Detention Manager makes little to no fiscal sense for Gila County taxpayers. Gila County was one of the first Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) sites, and in the process of implementation of JDAI and the use of a standardized detention screening instrument (DSI), we have learned that detention is not always an evidence-based practice when it comes to kids. In fact, we now know that detention does more harm to a juvenile than good. In addition to JDAI, and with the full support of the County Attorney's Office, Gila County Juvenile Probation runs a very robust and successful Diversion Program that is invested in families and prevention. This type of non-detention programming has led to the dramatically decreased need for detaining kids.
Because public safety is our mission, there will always be a need to detain a juvenile who is a risk to the community. We will continue to identify, assess and respond to the public safety needs of our communities. The Pinal County Youth Justice Center (PCYJC) fills that (infrequent) need. Pinal County is also a JDAI certified facility and has outstanding programming for juveniles in detention, including medical and education services on site. A cost of $175 per day is substantially lower than the going rate of up to $400 per day to detain a juvenile in other counties. It is noted that Pinal County has held juveniles for Gila County on conflict cases without charging a fee based on Gila County Probation's continued partnership with Pinal County.
In August 2016, the Chief Probation Officer re-initiated discussion with the Presiding Judge of the Gila County Superior Court, County Manager, and County Finance Director regarding the use of scarce resources on an expensive detention facility. This conversation led to a frank conversation with detention officer staff. As a result, our detention workforce has dwindled down from over twenty (20) officers (FY2016) to nine (9) officers (we anticipate more resignations or placements, with the hope of not having to lay-off one officer). With the need to provide continued vital services to the courts and law enforcement 24/7, we intend to keep approximately six (6) detention officers to transport juveniles to and from Pinal County to be detained, transported to and from court status hearings, and to make parents accessible to juveniles in detention. We also anticipate using these officers to transport families and juveniles participating in the Diversion Program to treatment, supervise community service work crews, complete pretrial assessments and function as dispatchers for our probation officers in the field. |
| Conclusion |
| The fee for daily services for the occasional detention of Gila County juveniles is very generous and a substantial cost savings to Gila County. Further, closing the facility is saving Gila County hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Pinal County Youth Justice Center is in the forefront of evidence-based practices and their facilities are exceptional. Law enforcement and the courts will continue to be serviced 24/7 for kids in detention or arrested and in need of assessment to be detained. The closing of the Globe Detention Center from the vantage point of law enforcement and the courts will be unrecognizable given that detention staff will continue to provide the same vital functions; in fact, our process will assure law enforcement is back on patrol faster without the need to find home placement or transport to Pinal County detention. With the trend continuing to move towards a continued reduction in juveniles being detained in Gila County, statewide and nationwide, approving the IGA with Pinal County has no recognizable downside. It is good for our kids, taxpayers and the community, and a good investment in families and prevention. |
| Recommendation |
| The Finance Director and Chief Probation Officer recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the IGA with Pinal Justice Center to house and treat detained Juveniles. |
| Suggested Motion |
| Information/Discussion/Action to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement with Pinal County Justice Center to house and treat detained juveniles for the period January 4, 2017, through January 4, 2018, with automatic one-year renewals up to ten years per Arizona Revised Statute § 11-952 (J) . (James Menlove/Steve Lessard) |
|
|
|
|