TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute documents necessary to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ), to divert juvenile cases from the Long Beach Police Department (PD), replacing the filing of a petition with a Restorative Community Conference (RCC). (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Police Department (PD) regularly encounters juveniles involved in burglaries, assaults and batteries, and other lesser included crimes. Often, these cases are investigated and filed with the District Attorney as formal petitions. To provide an effective way to intervene before the juvenile becomes involved in more serious crimes and to promote healing for both the subject and the victims of juvenile crime, the California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) seeks to divert juvenile cases, replacing the filing of a petition with a Restorative Community Conference (RCC).
The goals of RCC include helping victims heal, encouraging youth to take responsibility for their actions, giving the victim and communities a voice, involving families to prevent re-offending, and seeking to integrate the youth back into a caring community. Anticipated successes include decreased recidivism, decreased problems at home and school, ending the cycle of violence, and increased restitution to victims. CCEJ provides direct services, and also provides participants with referrals to outside services, such as, mental health, housing, and drug rehabilitation that participants may need prior to or after the RCC process. CCEJ works with various organizations in the area to provide similar services. This program is funded through the California Endowment and the Los Angeles County Dispute Resolution Programs Act.
Through the MOU, the PD will refer cases that fit within the referral criteria for the RCC program. CCEJ will maintain strict standards of security to ensure that information about subjects and victims remain confidential. A standard operating procedure will be established to govern the management, maintenance, and regular audit of shared case files. CCEJ will also ensure that the juvenile and their family do not have access to the victim's last name or contact information, and vice versa, unless both parties willingly agree to share that information. This MOU does not govern any contractual or financial arrangements between the parties, and can be terminated upon 30-day written notice.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Kendra Carney on July 7, 2014 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on June 11, 2014.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on December 9, 2014, to allow the PD to begin diverting juvenile cases to the RCC program.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact anticipated with the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Long Beach Police Officer who performs the arrest and/or referral of the juvenile to the Restorative Community Conference (RCC) program may participate in the RCC with consent from all parties involved. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ROBERT G. LUNA
CHIEF OF POLICE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER