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Home My WebLink About11/08/2011 Adjourned Meeting - Dept of Corrections 112 • JOINT CITY COUNCIL /COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADJOURNED MEETING REGARDING DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS NOVEMBER 8, 2011 — 3:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS — CITY HALL 1. RoII CaII Present: Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, Council Members Maureen Adkison, Rick Ensey, Dave Ettl and Bill Lover Absent: Dave Edler (Excused) County: Mike Leita, County Commissioner Staff: City Manager Cooper and City Clerk Kloster 2. Department of Corrections Ron Pedersen, Department of Corrections (DOC) Field Administrator for Community Corrections in 11 counties across Eastern Washington, gave a synopsis of the DOC's Offender Supervision Plan and some additional high level functions the DOC provides to the community. • There are 5 Field Offices (formerly known as Parole Offices) in Yakima County supervised by 4 Community Corrections Supervisors and 30 Community Corrections Officers (CCO's, formerly known as Parole Officers). These officers currently supervise 772 offenders that have been released from prisons and jails, as well as the Interstate Compact. Many of these offenders are gang members, mentally ill and sex offenders. • He stated complete offender supervision is a combination of field and office contacts and working with external stakeholders to protect their interest. • Community supervision is not just surveillance and searching for violations. It is also connecting with offenders and with resources so they pose less of a risk to public safety. • CCD transitions offenders back into the community by investigating plans of their release that are submitted six months before they complete their incarceration. This investigation mitigates risk by approving /disapproving release addresses based on victim concerns, potential new victims, community resources, treatment resources, and offender employment. • The Department of Corrections has special, law enforcement deputized staff to assist with local law enforcement and U.S. Marshal Drug and Violent Offender task forces that look for violent offenders who are unaccounted for. 143 Jjoyember 8.;':2011 Mr. Pedersen further explained how community corrections continue to evolve in offender supervision. He concluded his presentation by stating that Community Corrections is an integral part of a two -part process designed to increase public safety. This process begins with prison /jail, moves to community risk -based transition and release efforts, and finishes with the intensive, structured supervision of the offender.. Commissioner Leita reported the County does not have the capacity to respond to any transference of responsibilities. He also asked for the local districts budget, which Mr. Pedersen will provide. Mr. Pedersen reported that in late summer the Governor asked the state government to come up with a 5 -10 percent budget reduction. DOC has already been through three years of serious budget cuts and a reduction of over 1,200 employees. It was further determined the only way to achieve a savings of 10% would be to eliminate community supervision. Mayor Cawley questioned how they will measure the impact of this if it happens. Mr. Pedersen stated they haven't had time to assess the impacts of releasing low - level, unsupervised prisoners. Commissioner Leita felt if this program is eliminated, it would place a greater demand on state confinement, which is a greater impact on the budget and financially impacts the county judicial system. Mr. Leita thinks this is insanity. Mayor Cawley asked if their labor groups have taken concessions to help reduce costs. Mr. Pedersen replied all state employees have taken an across - the -board pay cut of 5% in addition to unpaid furlough days. Chief Copeland added that DOC has an officer assigned to the Yakima Police Department and that probation officers are able to do things a police officer cannot do as they do not need to wait for search warrant. They have a strong relationship with DOC and it is a necessity for our community. CAWLEY MOVED AND ETTL SECONDED THAT WE SEND A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATORS STATING WE THINK IT IS VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE THIS SERVICE; ADD THIS TO OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES; AND HAVE A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AS THIS SPECIAL SESSION COMES INTO PLAY. The motion carried by a 6 - voice vote, Edler absent. Commissioner Leita noted the County will be looking at this in greater depth and determine what course of action they will take. He added the state has a greater budget this biennium than last; these are increases in expenses, which have not been well managed and will now be managed at the expense of local government. Assistant Mayor Coffey requested a Council Legislative Committee meeting be scheduled in the near future. 3. Adjournment 114 .. .... November . $, .2011 •- .. - ENSEY MOVED COFFEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO THE NEXT COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING ON NOVEMBER 15, 2011 AT 6 :00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. The meeting adjourned at 4:12 p.m. P '', I P . ii READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY r` gada . - 4 - l� CAI - 17 : • ' DATE \K�MQ Lt- L N 6 ILMEMBER DATE 1 A E.,5„To `)-, X 11. 1° , *4 le II --: -■=_AL•AL • ;'.rkti* ezDA_ . '. "' ° CITY CtiERK \ MICAH CA LEY, MAYOR ii '1 %1SHING \�_` Mi ° ' Cd by Sonya Claar Tee. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office •