Subject:
Title
Interlocal Agreement with the Public Defender’s Office of the Sixth Judicial Circuit to support jail diversion, juvenile crossover case management and therapy, information technology staff, and the Pinellas County Mental Health Court.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Interlocal Agreement with the Public Defender’s Office of the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Public Defender) to support jail diversion, juvenile crossover case management and therapy, information technology staff, and Mental Health Court.
• The Interlocal Agreement supports programming and services offered by the Public Defender’s Office.
• The Jail Diversion program directs the placement of individuals to appropriate mental health services in lieu of jail. Jail diversion served 738 clients in Calendar Year (CY) 2021 and, as of July, has served another 449 in CY22.
• The Juvenile Crossover program assists youth who are at risk of re-offending and entering the adult justice system. In CY21 52 unduplicated youth received counseling and social services through this program. Another 37 youth have been served so far in CY22.
• The information technology position supports Article V requirements.
• The newly established Mental Health Court will be available as a pretrial intervention to address the frequent jailing of Pinellas County residents with serious mental health disorders by diverting those residents away from the criminal justice system and into community-based treatment and support services.
• The total amount of funding allocated is $1,628,710.00 for Fiscal Year 2023.
• Funding has increased from FY22 $1,233,220.00 to FY23 $1,628,710.00. This increase includes funding for three additional full time equivalents as well as services and support for Mental Health Court clients.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
2.4 Support programs that seek to prevent and remedy the causes of homelessness and move individuals and families from homelessness to permanent housing
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
Summary
This Interlocal Agreement provides funding to the Public Defender to support adult jail diversion, juvenile crossover, and Mental Health Court programs that prevent recidivism and stabilize clients by connecting them to services and community resources. This interlocal also includes an information technology position to provide technical support as required under Article V of the Florida Constitution.
Over an eighteen-year period through CY 2021, Jail Diversion has served 9,059 clients. Between January and July of 2022, another 449 clients received services through the Jail Diversion program.
In CY 2021 the Public Defender’s Office’s Crossover Case Managers provided 52 unduplicated youth counseling and connections to social services. Another 37 youth have been served so far in CY 2022.
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Background Information:
In accordance with Fla. Stat. § 27.51(1), the Public Defender’s office of the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Public Defender) provides legal representation to indigent adults and juveniles who have been accused of crimes in Pinellas County. In addition, Public Defender collaborates with Pinellas County on a number of projects that seek to divert clients from higher levels of involvement in the justice system, including the Jail Diversion Recovery Program (now called “MATT”: Mitigation, Advocacy & Treatment Team), the Juvenile Crossover Program, and the newly established Mental Health Court.
The MATT Jail Diversion program serves individuals whose legal involvement may be a result of untreated behavioral health disorder(s). Its purpose is to divert these clients from jail and into services in order to reduce recidivism and relieve the burden of mental health and substance use treatment currently placed on emergency medical services and the County jail. Services provided through MATT Jail Diversion include assessments, transportation, transitional housing, psychiatric referrals, treatment plans, prescription medication therapy, intensive case management, court liaisons, and other community services and support.
The Juvenile Crossover Program focuses on identifying youth cases (age 12-19) that “crossover” into both the dependency and delinquency divisions of the Unified Family Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. This program benefits youth in foster care who are most in need of stability by providing an array of social services including counseling, case management, and assistance with obtaining social security benefits.
The newly established Mental Health Court will be available as a pretrial intervention to address the frequent jailing of Pinellas County residents with serious mental health disorders by diverting those residents away from the criminal justice system and into community-based treatment and support services
Article V, Revision 7 of the Florida Constitution, requires the County to provide reasonable and necessary technology as well as communication functions for the Public Defender. The IT position provided through this interlocal performs all necessary on-site installation and support services for computers and equipment purchased by the County for the Public Defender.
Fiscal Impact:
The appropriation to support this agreement is consistent with the development of the FY23 Tentative Budget and is allocated to the program as follows:
- $1,190,130.00 - Jail Diversion Recovery Program (Now “MATT”)
o $661,760.00 for MATT program services
o $242,640.00 for three (3.0 FTE) MATT Case Managers
o $246,500.00 for two (3.0 FTE) MATT Mental Health Professionals and MATT Therapist
o $39,230.00 for MATT program supplies
- $247,640.00 - Juvenile Crossover Program
O $161,050.00 for two (2.0 FTE) Juvenile Crossover Case Manager
o $86,590.00 for one (1.0 FTE) Ready for Life Therapist
o $90,940.00 for one (1.0 FTE) Information Technology Position
o $100,000.00 for Mental Health Court Support
Total: $1,628,710.00
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Public Defender
Attachments:
Agreement