TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a waiver of direct receipt of the City of Long Beach’s eighth-year allocation of $18,706 in federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program funds to the County of Los Angeles, for the Juvenile Offender Intervention Network Program housed in Long Beach Juvenile Court to divert first-time serious juvenile offenders from the court system through an intensive, one-year program. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On June 14, 2005, the City Council, for the seventh consecutive year, approved a waiver of the direct receipt of City of Long Beach's (City) allocation of federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program funds to the County of Los Angeles (County). This approval authorized the County to use those funds for the Juvenile Offender Intervention Network (JOIN) Program housed in Long Beach Juvenile Court to divert first-time serious juvenile offenders from the court system through an intensive, one-year program that includes restitution for the victim, community service, counseling for youth and parents, and monitored school attendance.
Each successful JOIN case saves the justice system more than $7,000 by avoiding trial costs for the courts, police, probation, defense and prosecution.
Since 2003, more than 2,500 JOIN cases have been heard. By offering intervention before young offenders go to juvenile court, JOIN has a better than 85 percent success rate, reducing recidivism and ensuring that offenders pay restitution to victims.
The City has received an eighth consecutive year of funding from the JABG program, administered by the State Board of Corrections. The allocation for the 2006-2007 program year is $18,706, which must be expended on juvenile accountability in the criminal justice system.
The County has indicated a willingness to continue its partnership with the City under the JABG program. The City will use its allocation of JABG program funds to provide funding to the JOIN Program administer...
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