The federal Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG) program was created to promote greater accountability of juvenile offenders in the juvenile justice system. Grants are awarded to localities from the State of California, based upon jurisdictions’ crime indexes and law enforcement expenditures. In FY 2002/2003 Sunnyvale’s share of this award is $23,453.

This proposal is to transfer the total funding amount to the County of Santa Clara to help fund new and continuing juvenile accountability programs having a countywide benefit. This funding arrangement is consistent with the funding practices for this grant in prior years.

Staff recommends approving the attached Resolution declining direct acceptance of funding and authorizing expenditure to the County of Santa Clara. Please note that a failure to approve this funding plan reverts the funds back to the State of California’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning for redirection.

The federal 2001 JAIBG program provides $22.1 million to the Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP) which is distributed to local units of government to create and/or enhance juvenile justice programs. 75% of the total state award must be directly passed on to local governments. A local unit of government may forego directly appling for its JAIBG award and request that its funds be awarded to a larger or contiguous unit of government for its use for juvenile offenders.

Last fiscal year, the City Council passed Resolution No. 144-99, allowing transfer of Sunnyvale’s grant award to Santa Clara County. At least seven other cities transferred their share of the award to the County: Campbell, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, Mountain View and Santa Clara. The funding was utilized to research and create a truancy tracking system that could be shared with all school districts located in Santa Clara County in an effort to reduce juvenile truancy. The project is part of a coordinated agency plan called the Truancy Abatement Collaborative. Staff is again requesting a waiver of funding so the County can continue with abatement efforts initiated last year and to develop new juvenile accountability programs.

Goal 4.1A Provide a safe and secure environment for people and property in the community.

Policy 4.1A.2 Control conduct recognized as threatening to life and property.

Policy 4.1A.4 Reduce crime and fear by strengthening the police/community partnership.

Although the Public Safety Department had the initial option to apply for its share of funding, this avenue was not pursued for the following reasons:

1. The amount of the award available to the City of Sunnyvale, $23,453, is not sufficient to undertake the type of comprehensive program that would fit into one of the purpose areas outlined by the OCJP.
2. The County is leveraging the funds to implement broad programs that no single allocation could sufficiently support.

After appropriate consideration, staff supports a collaborative approach to juvenile accountability. The other cities contributing to the county truancy abatement effort this year are Campbell, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto and San Jose, for a total of $364,416. The proposed uses for the funding which have a countywide benefit are as follows:

• Complete the truancy tracking database started last year;
• Enhance the Ranch Substance Abuse Treatment program by hiring additional counselors;
• Implement a "juvenile drug treatment court" program to augment an existing mentoring program; and,
• Initiate preliminary work on a juvenile crime and data mapping project to track juvenile offenders.

Under the rules of the grant process, if the Resolution declining direct acceptance of funding and authorizing expenditure to the County of Santa Clara is not adopted, the funding award will revert back to the OCJP, and will result in no direct benefit to our region. It is also important to note that future block grants available under the JAIBG program would not be tied to continued funding of the proposed uses itemized above. We would have the opportunity to take a fresh look at expenditure ideas in future years.

None.

Posting of the Council Agenda. Reports to Council are also available at the City Library and on the City’s website.

1. Approve the attached Resolution declining direct acceptance of funding and authorizing appropriation to the County of Santa Clara.
2. Do not approve the Resolution and revert the funds back to the OCJP for redirection.

Staff recommends Alternative 1.

Prepared by:
David R. Johnson
Senior Management Analyst

Reviewed by:
Irwin I. Bakin
Director of Public Safety

Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager