Title
Approval to Proceed with the Application for the 2016 Community Court Grant Program through the Bureau of Justice Assistance/Center for Court Innovation for Funding Up to $200,000 for Olympia Municipal Court - Community Court
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager’s Recommendation:
Move to approve the Olympia Municipal Court to apply for the 2016 Community Court Grant Program through the Bureau of Justice Assistance/Center for Court Innovation for funding up to $200,000 for the Olympia Municipal Court‘s Community Court
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Olympia Municipal Court to proceed with the application to the 2016 Community Court Grant Program.
Staff Contact:
Diane Whaley, Public Defense Coordinator, 360.753.8057
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Olympia Municipal Court has started the soft launch of a Community Court. Through the Center for Court Innovation, the court has an opportunity to obtain grant funding. The court has buy-in from key stakeholders qualifying us and improving our chances for success. The grant funding obtained could be used to help implement and fund Community Court in obtaining more partners. Specifically, the court could potentially fund a resource coordinator, an on-site housing/homelessness provider, an on-site social worker to screen the needs of potential community court candidates, an on-site mental health evaluator, an on-site drug and alcohol evaluator, an on-site veteran’s resource, and other miscellaneous social services and expenses for community court (including security). In addition, the grant could be used to fund our current MOU partners.
Currently, the Olympia Municipal Community Court is operating under key partnerships on-site with South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council (PacMtn), and SeaMar Community Health Centers (SeaMar). These are partnerships operating under an MOU without any funding. SPSCC provides an educational link for community court defendants. PacMtn provides a job link. SeaMar provides a link to Medicaid, enrollment in the Basic Food Program, and referrals within the community for medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and mental health resources. Not operating under an MOU, Sidewalk is participating each week and linking together with community court defendant’s to advise on potential housing placement. In addition, Interfaith is delivering lunches for all community court participants. In order to expand and bring additional providers on-site, the court would like to apply for a grant. The court may need to use that funding in order to keep its current MOU partners on-site as well.
As Community Court currently runs, each on-site link can be used as a court ordered condition. Thus, if a defendant has been charged within a specific category of crime and qualifies under current policy, the defendant can be court ordered to meet on site with our community partners at a minimum in order to quickly impact the defendant.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if Known):
N/A
Options:
1. Approve to proceed with application
2. Do not approve to proceed with application
Financial Impact:
No costs are associated with proceeding with the application process.
Possible funding grant of up to $200,000 for a 24-month project period - anticipated project timeline is June 1, 2016 - May 31, 2018.