Sponsor: Community Corrections
Title
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Grant Award from the City University of New York/Institute of State and Local Governance Committee for Reducing Revocation Challenge
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of a grant application to the City University of New York/Institute of State and Local Governance Committee for Reducing Revocation Challenge
2. Accept a grant award from and approve a grant with the City of New York University/Institute of State and Local Governance Committee for Reducing Revocation Challenge for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2023 in the amount of $430,438.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and amendments to agreements and contracts in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
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Background and Rationale
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The Reducing Revocations Challenge (RRC), a national initiative funded by Arnold Ventures and led by the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Institute for State and Local Governance, aims to transform probation supervision and reduce unnecessary failures that contribute to mass incarceration. The first phase of this initiative supported action research in 10 jurisdictions across the country to better understand why revocations occur and how they can be prevented. The research, facilitated through Action Research Teams, comprised of probation agency and research partners, was a critical focus in this initial phase of the initiative (Phase I).
The action research carried out in Phase I of the RRC shed a great deal of light on the factors and circumstances that can contribute to unnecessary failures on supervision. The research highlighted not only the range of different factors and circumstances at play, but also the complexity and nuance in how they interact and how they influence decisions made by probation and other system actors. It also illuminated the significant roles that probation policies and practices can play in hindering success on supervision.
Phase II of the RRC used the research from Phase I to inform the identification and development of specific policy and practice interventions that will enhance success on probation and confront racial inequities in outcomes. Some of these interventions may be piloted and tested in Phase II. The following jurisdictions were selected to participate in Phase II:
• Harris County, TX: Harris County Community Supervision & Corrections Department and Justice System Partners
• Monroe County, IN: Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department and Indiana University
• Pima County, AZ: Adult Probation Department of the Superior Court in Pima County and the National Center for State Courts
• Ramsey County, MN: Ramsey County Community Corrections and the Robina Institute
• Santa Cruz County, CA: Santa Cruz County Probation Department and Resource Development Associates
Phase II is scheduled to begin October 2021 and run through October 2023. Ramsey County was awarded $430,438. to do this work. The award will include contracted services for research with the Robina Institute (of the University of Minnesota), as well as the hiring of a project manager, navigator services provided by a community service provider and dollars for stipends and incentives. Phase II also sets forth a three-lane system for transforming probation in Ramsey County. The three lane system is a systemic strategy. Through this framework, the goal will be to tackle many of the issues identified in the RRC study while being strategic about when and for whom supervision, sanctions, and services are provided.
For more information on the CUNY Institute of State and Local Governance Reducing Revocations Challenge, please visit
<https://islg.cuny.edu/blog/pathways-to-success-in-probation>.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
This proposed three lane approach for Phase II of this work includes an emphasis on equity for each of the three lanes. For lane one, the vision is to equitably reduce the correctional footprint. For lane two, the vision is to amplify equitable social, health and welfare services and equitable reduce technical violations. For lane three, the vision is to equitably promote behavioral change and prevent reoffending by providing correctional interventions.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Community based agencies will be subcontracted to hire navigators to work on this project. The agency and navigators will be selected on criteria that include knowledge of and experience with adults who have experienced the criminal justice system. Community members will also sit on the Steering Committee for this grant.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The full amount of this grant is $430,438. Activities and programming will be provided in-kind. Programming for the CUNY/ISLG Reducing Revocations Grant will continue without budgetary impact as long as funding remains available.
County Manager Comments
No additional comments.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. City University of New York/Institute for Local Governance Grant Agreement