HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1986/04/15 Item 14 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT
Item 14
/�/ Meeting Date 4/15/86
ITEM TITLE: Resolution /021641a Approving an Agreement Providing
Funding to SANDAG for Continuing Operation of the
Regional Justice Clearinghouse
SUBMITTED BY: Director of Public Safet 'i (4/5ths Vote: Yes pc:
REVIEWED BY: City Manager
The Regional Criminal Justice Clearinghouse was funded by the County on
a two year pilot basis to provide accurate and timely information to assist
local decision-makers in developing crime control policies. Recently, the
SANDAG Board and the Council approved a proposal to continue the
Clearinghouse at an annual cost of $150,000 . It was suggested that the
County be responsible for two-thirds of the cost and the remaining $50,000
be divided on a population basis by those cities not served by the Sheriff.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution approving funding for Regional
Clearinghouse
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: N/A
DISCUSSION:
In January 1984, the County of San Diego funded the clearinghouse project
on a two-year pilot basis . Two years later, at the January 1986 meeting
of the Criminal Justice Council, this group supported the continuing effort
of the clearinghouse. Since all local governments have an interest in
public safety, it was suggested that the $150 , 000 annual cost be shared.
The Council proposed that the County be responsible for two-thirds of the
cost and the remaining one-third ($50 ,000) be divided among the cities .
On January 24, the SANDAG Board of Directors approved the continuation of
the clearinghouse and supported the funding proposal.
The Criminal Justice Council is a group of justice administrators and elect
officials informally organized to address regional criminal justice issues .
Specifically, the Council's current members include:
A County Supervisor (chair of the Council)
Councilpersons representing San Diego and Escondido
The County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
The Sheriff
The Chiefs of Police of National City and the City of San Diego
The District Attorney
The City Attorney of San Diego
The Chief Probation Officer
The Director of the Office of Defender Services
Presiding Judges of the Superior and Municipal Courts
Form A-113 (Rev. 11/79)
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Page 2 , Item 14
Agreement Providing Fundi
to SANDAG for Continuing
Operation of Regional
Justice Clearinghouse
In early 1983, the Council identified system fragmentation as the most
critical justice problem in the region. Fragmentation was described as
isolated approaches to solving crime problems and lack of recognition of
the interdependent nature of the justice system. For example, if a police
department hires many new officers or implements a new enforcement strategy,
i .e. , a narcotics street team, the impact on other parts of the system can
be significant. More persons will be arrested and booked into the jail,
the workload of the prosecutor will increase and more cases will be
processed through the courts .
For FY 1986 , criminal justice expenditures in the region rose to over $300
million. Yet, this figure does not reflect the $134 million worth of
property stolen from San Diegans or the trauma experienced by 1 of 17 crime
victims in 1985 . A significant proportion of each local government' s budge
is appropriated for law enforcement. The issue of public safety, the systei
designed to respond to crime and the required resources warrant a regional
perspective.
The Criminal Justice Council determined that understanding crime and
responding effectively require management of the data indicators that
pinpoint the success of crime control policies . The development and
maintenance of accurate, complete and high quality data is necessary to
address the crime problem.
The Clearinghouse Project
Since the SANDAG Criminal Justice Unit had been examining local criminal
justice issues funded by the State and Federal governments, the Council
requested the unit to develop the clearinghouse.
Specifically, the clearinghouse was funded to do the following:
Examine the types of information needed to make operational and policy
decisions within each component of the system, e.g. , law enforcement,
prosecution, courts , probation
Determine how current data are used
Assess the validity of available data
Compile, analyze and disseminate quarterly and annual reports that
address the system response to crime
Page 3 , Item 14
Agreement Providing Fundi
to SANDAG for Continuing
Operation of Regional
Justice Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse has produced these products:
Annual Crime Reports (1984 & 1985)
Quarterly crime updates
Quarterly reports on detention facilities
Quality Control Audits:
Crime Reporting
Arrest & Citation Reporting
Juvenile Probation Statistical Information
Offender-Based Transaction System (Spring 1985)
Use and Value of Law Enforcement Information
As a result of the clearinghouse efforts, the police agencies send SANDAG
their crime data on a monthly basis and these statistics have been
computerized. Recently, the County augmented the clearinghouse project to
include short-term studies to monitor the inmate population in the jails .
This information is being used to determine the types of facilities needed
for which kinds of inmates and to examine the use of alternatives to
incarceration.
Police administrators have indicated the following ways that the SANDAG
crime reports are used in their agencies:
Comparative analysis with other jurisdictions
To compare trends over time in own agency
To identify areas that may require operational changes
To present information to city councils and community groups such as
Neighborhood Watch
Use as background information for budget preparations
As a source for media requests
To increase understanding of criminal justice issues
Obviously, the unit cannot directly reduce crime but it can provide
elected officials and criminal justice administrators with the type of
information needed to allocate resources, develop strategies to address
crime-related problems and establish crime control policies for the
San Diego region.
Page 4 , Item 14
Agreement Providing Fundi
to SANDAG for Continuing
Operation of Regional
Justice Clearinghouse
The County of San Diego is mandated by the State to provide crime and
justice services in all areas except municipal law enforcement. The
County, in its 5-year plan (1983) , stated its commitment to the develop-
ment of an integrated, more cost-effective criminal justice system.
The clearinghouse effort provides the information needed to move toward
this goal since it represents the only centralized source for regional
criminal justice information.
This agreement shall commence on July 1, 1986 if all local agencies have
approved it and will continue until either of the following occurs: Any
local agency which has agreed to fund the Clearinghouse gives notice that
it no longer intends to continue the agreement or the local agency fails
to appropriate funds in subsequent years' budgets to fund the operation
of the Clearinghouse. Any local agency may terminate this agreement
by giving at least 30 days written notice prior to June 30th of each year
of such termination. Such termination shall be effective on June 30 of
that year.
The amount of payment shall be computed on an annual basis as follows :
a. The SANDAG Board of Directors shall determine and approve the
amount of funding necessary to operate the Clearinghouse for
the upcoming year and include that amount in the preliminary
and final SANDAG budget.
b. The County of San Diego shall pay two-thirds of that amount.
c . The remaining one-third shall be divided among the Cities on a
population basis, using the percent of population each city
bears to the population of all Cities as the percent of the
one-third share each city shall pay.
Based on this formula the Chula Vista payment for fiscal year 1986-87
will be $3, 777, including the Montgomery population.
FISCAL IMPACT: $3,777 to be budgeted in account 1030-5298 for fiscal
year 1986-87 .
by he City Council of
Chula Vista, California
Dated � '��