To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Katherine Smith, Director, Community Resources
Prepared By:
prepared
Brad Kamby, Division Manager, Judicial Services
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presenter
Presenter: Katherine Smith, Director, Community Resources
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Subject:
title
2:00 PM *Judicial Services Overview and Consolidation
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this study session is to provide the BOCC with an overview of the Judicial Services Division and to request approval from the BOCC to consolidate the Altura Plaza office to the Lima Plaza office, effectively relocating three staff members.
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Background and Discussion: The Judicial Services Division is comprised of five programs that provide services to justice-involved individuals, various criminal justice agencies, and other stakeholders in Arapahoe County. The Judicial Services programs include Pretrial Services, the Pretrial Mental Health Program, Community Service, Strategic Business & Systems Analysis, and Community Corrections. The Community Service program has seen a 21% decrease in court-ordered community service intakes since 2021. The reduction in court-ordered community service is not unique to Arapahoe County. Other counties have reported similar reductions in community service numbers. Due to continued reduction in the number of clients in the Community Service program, Judicial Services believes that the consolidation of offices and reallocation of a full-time employee is warranted. With the ability to conduct intakes and case management duties remotely, Judicial Services has the capability to continue providing high-quality customer service to individuals. Judicial Services would continue to offer in-person services at Altura Plaza a minimum of twice per month to accommodate individuals who have no option to receive services virtually and who are unable to travel to Lima Plaza. The current Community Service Supervisor will transfer to an existing vacant Pretrial Officer position. The Community Service Supervisor position will be re-classified to a General Fund Pretrial Navigator position.
Fiscal Impact: Judicial Services has proven, year-after-year, to be cost-effective. In 2023, the General Fund programs cost $2,451,359 to operate and saved $5,732,519 through the avoidance of jail days. Although Judicial Services would relocate from Altura Plaza to Lima Plaza, the Veteran Services office would remain open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to serve the public. Two of the Pretrial Navigators are grant-funded (ARPA) employees. It is estimated that ARPA funds for the two grant-funded positions will be expended in 9-10 months. Without other funding sources, the capacity of the Pretrial Mental Health Program to provide services will be cut in half. Converting the Community Service Supervisor position to a Pretrial Navigator allows Judicial Services to create a third permanent Pretrial Navigator position without adding FTE, extend the remaining ARPA-funded Pretrial Navigator position by several months and give Judicial Services more time to seek alternative grant funding for the Pretrial Mental Health Program.
Alternatives: Do not consolidate Judicial Services’ offices and continue to provide community service in-person intakes at Altura Plaza Mondy-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Not consolidating offices will make oversight of the program and supervision of staff more difficult and less efficient.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☐Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommend the consolidation of the Judicial Services offices and transferring the staff working out of Altura Plaza to Lima Plaza effective July 1, 2024.
Concurrence: The 18th Judicial District Probation Department has no concerns with Judicial Services consolidating offices.