PD:JTB:MM:F\\police\share\staffrpt\JABG2004.doc

City Council Meeting: September 28, 2004 Santa Monica, California

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the Release of the 2004 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Fund Allocation to the County of Los Angeles for the Juvenile Offender Intervention (JOIN) Program

Introduction

This report recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing release of the City’s $33,228 allocation of Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program funds to the County of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County District Attorney will use the funds for a Special Projects prosecutor to manage Santa Monica juvenile cases referred to the Juvenile Offender Intervention Network (JOIN) Program.

Discussion

The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program is a federal program administered in California by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. JABG funds may be used only for juvenile justice programs that qualify in one of twelve specified purpose areas. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s JOIN program is an eligible JABG program.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office created the JOIN program in 1994 to deal with minors arrested for non-violent first time offenses whose crimes are too serious for WIC Section 654 probation, but not serious enough to be set for court. The JOIN program diverts the offenders to an intervention program that holds them accountable for behavioral improvement.

For the past two years, Santa Monica has participated in the JOIN program by releasing its JABG allocation to the County of Los Angeles to pay for a JOIN Special Projects prosecutor to manage cases referred by Santa Monica. In FY 2003-04, Santa Monica juvenile cases referred to the District Attorney increased by 11% over the previous year.

In FY 2004-05, the City is eligible to receive a JABG allocation of $33,228. To participate in the JOIN Program, Santa Monica must formally transfer the right to receive the funds to the County of Los Angeles by means of a Council Resolution.

Budget/Financial Impact

The recommendation presented in this report does not have any budget or financial impact, since the City will not directly receive the JABG funds.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the release of the 2004 allocation of $33,228 in Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program funds to the County of Los Angeles for a Special Projects prosecutor to manage Santa Monica cases referred to the District Attorney’s Juvenile Offender Intervention Network (JOIN) Program.

Prepared by: James T. Butts, Jr., Chief of Police