| Item Title: | Community Services-Reentry Project | | Submitted By: | Irene Valenzuela, Executive Director, Community Services Department (915) 775-2708 | | Subject: | Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign 1) the letter of commitment to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs for the Innovative Reentry Initiatives: Building System Capacity & Testing Strategies to Reduce Recidivism; 2) the Memorandum of Understanding between the County of El Paso, Texas and the Sheriff's Office, Jail Annex, and 3) the Mandatory Chief Executive Assurance to Comply with Statutory and Program Requirements form for the Community Services Department, Reentry Division. (Contract No. 2019-0481) | | Background: | The U.S. Department of Justice requires the County Judge's signature on the following forms in order for the Community Services Department to submit the grant application to assess and develop the capacity for reentry systems improvements. This program furthers the Department's mission by providing resources to implement and test promising and evidence-based strategies which result in improved public safety including lower crime and reduce recidivism. | | Fiscal Impact: | An account will be set-up at the time the grant is awarded and approved by Commissioners Court.
The total proposed budget for this project has increased from $640,000 to $658,439. The amount of federal funds requested will be $328,459 and the County will be providing a match amount of $329,980. However, actual fiscal impact to the County will be in the amount of $94,348. This is due to the majority of the cash match coming from existing Reentry Division salaries and benefits in the amount of $235,632. | | Recommendation: | Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign 1) the letter of commitment to the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs for the, Innovative Reentry Initiatives: Building System Capacity & Testing Strategies to Reduce Recidivism, 2) the Memorandum of Understanding Between the County of El Paso, Texas and the Sheriff's Office, Jail Annex, and 3) the Mandatory Chief Executive Assurance to Comply with Statutory and Program Requirements form for the Community Services Department, Reentry Division. (Contract No. 2019-0481) | | Prior Action: | Permission to apply was granted on 7/1/2019, item #22. - Approve and authorize the Community Services Department to apply for a Reentry Program Grant under the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to increase the success of offenders returning to the community from incarceration through a combination of system-level improvements and demonstration projects. Project total in the amount of $640,000 with the match of $320,000 for a four year period. | | Strategic Plan: | .. | | Strategic Plan Information: | |
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