The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) – an organization
that is partnering with the American Civil Liberties Union of
Northern California – is working to disseminate information
broadly about AB 60, the Safe and Responsible Driver Act, which
passed in 2013. That measure allows any eligible California
resident to apply for a driver’s license, regardless of
immigration status, beginning January 1, 2015.
The Joint Training Partnership (JTP) – a partnership among the
California State Association of Counties, the Chief Probation
Officers of California, and the California State Sheriffs’
Association – is pleased to be sponsoring the fourth annual
statewide conference on public safety realignment. Planned for
January 22 and 23, 2015, the conference will bring together
criminal justice system stakeholders to examine public safety and
justice innovations in California counties.
Several budget trailer bills were acted on by the Legislature in
the closing days of session to clarify and correct certain
provisions of the 2014-15 budget. A few with provisions relevant
to public safety / justice budget items are highlighted below;
all of these measures were signed into law, with provisions
effective immediately:
Counties should be aware that several budget trailer bills were
acted on by the Legislature in the closing days of session to
clarify and correct certain provisions of the 2014-15 budget. A
few with provisions relevant to public safety / justice budget
items are highlighted below; all of these measures passed both
houses and will be acted on by the Governor by the end of the
month:
SB 419 (Block) – Support
As Amended August 22, 2014
CSAC supports SB 419, by Senator Marty Block, which would clarify
the authority of local agencies to collect restitution fines from
specified criminal justice populations and make these fines
enforceable by the Victim Compensation and Government Claims
Board. The bill is sponsored by the Chief Probation Officers of
California.
CSAC supports SB 419, by Senator Marty Block, which would clarify
the authority of local agencies to collect restitution fines from
specified criminal justice populations and make these fines
enforceable by the Victim Compensation and Government Claims
Board. The bill is sponsored by the Chief Probation Officers of
California.
AB 1837, by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, would establish a
framework for the issuance of up to $5 million in social
innovation or pay-for-success bonds. An appropriation of the same
amount included in the 2014-15 budget (see discussion of AB 1476
and SB 875 in the trailer bill section below) – part of the
Recidivism Reduction Fund expenditures – is contingent upon
authorizing legislation. This measure would serve as that
authorizing vehicle.
California Black/Brown Summit on Reentry and Recidivism
Event Planned for November
CSAC has been asked to publicize to its members a November event
that will explore reentry and recidivism issues with a particular
focus on impacts of recent correctional system reforms in
communities of color. Please mark the dates and location for the
event:
November 12-14, 2014
Mount Calvary Baptist Church (Fairfield Campus)
1735 Enterprise Drive, Building #3
Fairfield, CA 94533
AB 2397 (Frazier) – Support
Chapter No. 167, Statutes of 2014
AB 2397, by Assembly Member Jim Frazier, authorizes increased use
of video technology for inmate court appearances. The bill,
signed into law earlier this week, was co-sponsored by the
California State Sheriffs’ Association and the Chief Probation
Officers of California.
AB 1512 (Stone) – Support
Chapter No. 44, Statutes of 2014
AB 1512, by Assembly Member Mark Stone, allows the Board of
Supervisors of a county to enter into a transfer agreement with
another county to house local jail inmates when certain criteria
are met. The Governor signed the bill into law this week.
BSCC Request for Comment on Draft Definition of Recidivism
Public Hearings Scheduled for June
As counties may recall, in an effort to collect more consistent
criminal justice-related data across the 58 counties, Governor
Brown signed AB 1050 (Dickinson, 2013) into law, which requires
the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to develop
key definitions that counties can use as a standard to measure
and compare the effectiveness of evidence-based rehabilitative
practices.
BSCC Request for Comment on Draft Definition of Recidivism: July
3, 2014
As you may recall, in an effort to collect more consistent
criminal justice-related data across the 58 counties, Governor
Brown signed AB 1050 (Dickinson, 2013) into law which requires
the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to develop
key definitions that counties can use as a standard to measure
and compare the effectiveness of evidence-based rehabilitative
practices.
Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board Restitution
Survey Due
The Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB) is
conducting a statewide survey exploring restitution collection
processes and challenges at the local level. The survey focuses
on identifying collection processes, impediments to collection
and efforts to improve and expand current processes. The VCGCB
mailed a copy of the survey along with an informational letter to
County Administrative Officers (CAOs) and Court Executive
Officers (CEOs) throughout the state on April 25, 2014.
Trailer Bill Language on Key Public Safety Issues Now Online
–
Request for Review
Trailer bill language for several priority public safety budget
issues is now available online, as detailed below. We ask
counties to review the language as quickly as possible and offer
any feedback to Elizabeth Howard
Espinosa or London Biggs.
AB 1512 (Stone) – Support
As amended March 18, 2014
AB 1512, by Assembly Member Mark Stone, would allow the Board of
Supervisors of a county to enter into a transfer agreement with
another county to house local jail inmates when certain criteria
are met.
AB 579 (Melendez) – Support
Chapter No. 12, Statutes of 2014
AB 579 by Assembly Member Melissa Melendez is an urgency measure
that seeks to clarify in state law that the period of mandatory
supervision period begins immediately upon release from custody
for individuals who have been given a split sentence under Penal
Code Section 1170 (h) as a result of 2011 Public Safety
Realignment.
PPIC Data Report and Speakers Series Focus on Corrections Reform
Recently, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has
been focusing much of its research efforts on exploring a number
of issues related to Criminal Justice Realignment. Several
reports on a broad array of topics relating to AB 109 are
currently available on the PPIC’s website including their most
recent report on the subject, “Corrections Realignment and Data
Collection in California.”
Roundtable Discussion on Juvenile Justice: School to Prison
Pipeline: April 24, 2014
The California Institute for Mental Health (CiMH) invites
individuals working with youth, youth and families, the school
system, law enforcement, corrections, or mental health and
substance abuse services to join a roundtable discussion on
juvenile justice issues as part of their AB 109 Public Safety
Realignment Training Series.
Key Subcommittee Hearings Slated for Later in April
As counties are aware, the Governor presented his proposed
2014-15 budget on January 10; CSAC’s summary of the key elements
of the Administration’s recommended spending plan can be
found here.
The Legislature’s review of the Governor’s proposals is now
underway, with each house’s relevant budget subcommittees meeting
to review and potentially take action on the various proposals.
Not too late to Register! Joint Training Partnership April
Seminar
Spaces are still available for the Joint Training Partnership’s
“Facility Construction and Liability in a Post Realignment World”
training opportunity.
Registration now open: Voices from the Field: Lessons Learned
from Law Enforcement Mental Health Partnerships: March 27, 2014
The Council of State Governments Justice Center with funding
support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice
Assistance will be hosting a webinar focusing on the importance
of collaboration between law enforcement and mental health
providers in promoting safe and healthy college campuses.
The key public safety issues in the Governor’s budget are
scheduled to be heard in the relevant Senate and Assembly budget
subcommittees toward the latter part of April. In the meantime,
the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) has put out two reports of
interest that assess the Governor’s public safety budget items.
The California Department of State Hospitals Sponsors Legislative
Package
In recent months, the problem of how to deal with mentally-ill
defendants, and specifically those that are deemed incompetent to
stand trial (IST), has been an area of increasing concern for the
Governor’s Administration and the Department of State Hospitals
(DSH).
Assembly Select Committee on Justice Reinvestment Website Goes
Live
As of today, upcoming events, materials, and archived agendas
will be available on a new website created by the Assembly for
the 13-member Assembly Select Committee on Justice Reinvestment.
The committee is co-chaired by current Assembly Public Safety
Committee Chair Tom Ammiano and Assembly Budget Subcommittee No.
5 on Public Safety Chair Reginald Jones-Sawyer.
Assembly Select Committee on Justice Reinvestment: February
Hearings
Assembly Speaker John Pérez created the Assembly Select Committee
on Justice Reinvestment at the end of 2013 with the assigned task
of exploring and identifying “solutions to the state’s longtime
criminal justice and prison challenges.”
Judicial Council Sponsored Legislation: Outpatient Status for
Mentally Disordered and Developmentally Disabled Offenders:
Request for Comment
In December, the Judicial Council of California approved a
recommendation submitted by the Policy Coordination and Liaison
Committee, in conjunction with the Mental Health Issues
Implementation Task Force (MHIITF), to sponsor legislation for
the 2014 legislative session which would allow the court, when
appropriate, to conditionally release a defendant found to be
incompetent to stand trial to a placement in the community,
rather than in a
Senate Budget Committee Holds Informational Hearing on
Corrections and Realignment
This week, the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review held
a lengthy informational hearing focused on the California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) as well as
realignment and reentry issues identified by various subject
matter experts invited to testify before the panel.
Last Day to Register for Pretrial Justice Seminar!
The registration deadline for the Joint Training Partnership’s
first training opportunity of the year is today, January 17,
2014. This seminar is the third in a series of discussions
focusing on the latest research, best practices, and effective
communication strategies in the area of pretrial justice. The
course is designed to explore common systemic problems and
initiate a collaborative dialogue among system
stakeholders.
Where: Hyatt Regency Sacramento
1209 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
CSAC Leadership and Senate President Pro Tem Steinberg Engage on
the Issue of Mentally Ill Offenders
CSAC First Vice President and Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito
Chiesa along with Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna
recently stood with California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell
Steinberg as he announced 2014 legislation to renew the Mentally
Ill Offender Crime Reduction (MIOCR) grant program for California
counties.
Registration Now Open for Pretrial Justice Seminar for System
Stakeholders: January 23, 2014
On Thursday, January 23rd, the Joint Training Partnership – which
includes the California State Association of Counties, the
California State Sheriffs’ Association, and the Chief Probation
Officers of California – will present their first training
opportunity for the new year.
Attorney General and Senate President Pro Tem Call Upon Counties
to Assist in the Fight Against Human Trafficking
The leader of the State Senate, President Pro Tem Darrell
Steinberg, and California State Attorney General Kamala Harris
have asked for the assistance of counties in implementing and
enforcing the requirements of recently enacted legislation
designed to increase access to services and increase rescues for
victims of human trafficking.
Exploring Successful Collaborative Strategies for Mental Health
and Justice System Partners
A group of 100 or so county, state, and community leaders will
gather today in Sacramento for a one-day conference aimed at
exploring strategies for best managing and treating persons with
mental health issues who are involved in the criminal justice
system.
Correctional News is sponsoring an industry networking and
educational event on Wednesday, November 13 in Sacramento.
The focus of the all-day summit is construction project
planning with presentations covering all aspects of the design
and building process to ensure successful project delivery.
AB 748 (Eggman) – Support
Chapter No. 395, Statutes of 2013
Governor Brown signed AB 748 into law this week. This measure, by
Assembly Member Susan Talamantes Eggman, amends the current
calculation of the judicial interest rate charged to public
entities. This bill was sponsored by the Urban Counties Caucus
and supported by CSAC, various counties, and other
groups.
AB 748 (Eggman) – Support
As amended August 30, 2013
AB 748, by Assembly Member Susan Talamantes Eggman, would amend
the current calculation of the judicial interest rate charged to
public entities. Several technical amendments were recently
incorporated, and the measure now awaits action by the full
Senate. SB 748 is sponsored by the Urban Counties Caucus. CSAC, a
number of individual counties, and a range of other public entity
advocacy groups are in support.
AB 748, by Assembly Member Susan Talamantes Eggman, would amend
the current calculation of the judicial interest rate charged to
public entities. The measure passed the Senate Appropriations
Committee on August 19 and now awaits action by the full Senate.
SB 748 is sponsored by the Urban Counties Caucus, with CSAC, a
number of individual counties, and a range of other public entity
advocacy groups supporting.
AB 265 (Gatto) – Support
Chapter No. 74, Statutes of 2013
AB 265, by Assembly Member Mike Gatto, relates to dog parks and
local governmental liability. Specifically, the measure – in new
Government Code Section 831.7.5 – provides that local governments
that own or operate a dog park have civil immunity from harm or
death that result solely from the actions of a dog in the dog
park. CSAC supported this measure. Governor Brown signed the
measure into law this week.
Last week the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected the
state’s request to delay an earlier federal court order to reduce
the state’s prison population by December 31, 2013 down to 137.5%
of prison design capacity. The state continues to pursue its
appeal of the underlying ruling, but it now must take the steps
needed to achieve the required population target by the end of
the year, which could include early release of prison
inmates.
