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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-06-2007-5eORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 6, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. E: SUBJECT: Acceptance of Electronic Monitoring Initiative Grant Award and Authorization of Deputy Sheriff Position DEPARTMENT: Budget PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass - (919) 644-3050 Grant Award - Electronic Monitoring Captain Charles Blackwood - (919) 644-3050 Initiative PURPOSE: To accept Law Enforcement Electronic Monitory grant funds awarded to the Sheriff's Department, and authorize one full-time equivalent Deputy Sheriff position, effective February 7, 2007, for one-year contingent upon continuation of grant funding in year two. BACKGROUND: In 2004 as the result of work of a House Select Committee on Domestic Violence, the, General Assembly enacted House Bill 1354 to strengthen domestic violence laws in North Carolina. Part XI of this Bill, Domestic Violator Offense Tracking, has a goal of saving domestic violence victims, including their children, from continued harm or death by accounting for offender whereabouts during the pre-trial release period. At the time of the Bill's passage, twenty-six percent of domestic violence homicides in North Carolina occurred while the offender was free on bond. As a condition of an offender's pre-trial release, the Domestic Violence Protective Order will require that the offender wear an ankle bracelet that electronically monitors his or her location, via a global positioning system (GPS), twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week. During the pre-trial release period, should the offender attempt to access "off-limit" areas such as the victim's home, workplace or school, law enforcement officers would be immediately notified and subsequently arrest the offender before he/she had an opportunity to harm or kill the victim. Law enforcement and judicial officials have found the use of this technology to be especially beneficial in cases where the pre-trial period is marked by consistent violations of protection orders. Electronic monitoring is an added measure of security, accountability, and protection for victims. As a pilot project, the State's Department of Crime Control and Public Safety awarded a federal pass-through grant to Pitt County in 2005 to initiate this program in that county. This year, the State awarded additional federal pass-through Law Enforcement Electronic 2 Monitoring Initiative grant funds to four more counties - Orange, Alamance, Chatham, and Rockingham - to expand the program to those areas. For each county, grant funding will cover the cost of hiring one full-time equivalent Deputy (salary, benefits, training, supplies, and personal computer) in addition to contractual costs of monitoring the offenders. Each site plans to hire one law enforcement officer to actively monitor twenty individuals on pre-trial release. In addition to creating greater security for. the victim, sentencing the offender to electronic monitoring instead of active jail time will free up jail space. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The grant period covers two years and totals $152,085 for Orange County. Costs covered include salary and benefit costs of the newly authorized Deputy Sheriff position, day-to-day operations and contractual costs of offender monitoring, and computer equipment. It is important to note that the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety has appropriated funding for year one of the grant ($77,235) and plans to hold, in reserve, the second year's grant funds ($74,850) contingent upon the successful completion of the first year grant and timely submission of all required reports. It is important to note that, as a condition of the grant, beginning in fiscal year 2009-10, funding for the program is the sole responsibility of Orange County, and it is staff's understanding that the County must continually fund the position. The projected daily cost of housing one inmate in the Orange County Jail averages $38 or $13,870 per year. Based on twenty offenders being monitored electronically and not housed in the Jail, the annual estimated cost avoided totals $277,400. In addition, the Courts plan to assess a $10 per day fee to the offender (paid to the Sheriff's Department) to recoup some portion of the costs associated with this program. Annual revenues anticipated through this fee totals $73,000 assuming twenty offenders monitored 365 days per year. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1. Accept the two-year Law Enforcement Electronic Monitoring Initiative Grant; 2. Authorize one full-time equivalent Deputy Sheriff position, beginning February 7, 2007, for one-year. Continuation of the position would be contingent upon continuation of grant funding in year two of the grant; 3. Agree to fund the authorized new position and program, beginning in fiscal year 2009-10, should the State find the first year of the program successful and appropriates the second year of the grant funds. ATE ? d w i7 n Applicant: County of Orange Authorizing Official: Albert Pendergrass Sheriff Address: P.O Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Vendor Number: Budgets Period Grants Source 56.6000327-D STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CRIME CONTROL AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION OF GOVERNOR'S CRIME COMMISSION w/3/0 1201 Front Street, Suite 200 fYT i Raleigh, NC 27609 i Telephone: (919) 733-4564 Fax: (919) 733-4625 http://www.ncgccd org GRANT AWARD Project Name: Electronic Monitoring Initiative Implementing Agency: Orange County Sheriff's Office Project Director: Charles Blackwood Grant Number: 068-1-06-001-BL-180 Application ID: 14973 Account Manager: Bryant, Cheryl Personnel Contractual Travel 8;a;: 0 0 Award Date, % Funding Federal Award 100.000% 77,235 41 Total 77,235.41 Au h „ on I a) G v rnor` ri e ommi - n gnature of Authorizing Official Date Signature of Director Date Albert Pendergrass, Sheriff David E. Jones, Executive Director Name and title of Authorizing Official Name and title of Director P roj diD i 'c Signature of Project Director Date tl Charles Blackwood, Captain Name and title of Project Director ? This award Is subject to the attached conditions, which must be signed by both the authorizing official and the project director Printed 10/31/2006 8:17:30 14973 In accordance with the provisions of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 and on the basis of the grantee's application, the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety hereby awards to the foregoing grantee an award in the amount above This grant is subject to the conditions listed in the grant application as well as all applicable rules, regulations and conditions, as may be reasonably prescribed by the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety consistent with the purpose arid authorization of P.L. 98-473 If special conditions have been applied to this grant, they are attached to this award and indicated below.