TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Police Department and other relevant departments to create a plan to reduce recidivism that includes the following; and report back to City Council within 60 days:
· Immediate engaging upon release of individual.
· Make early released prisoners aware of free reentry services such as programs for anger management/domestic violence, workforce development, drug rehabilitation, parenting and life skills, GED/adult education programs.
· To plan for the low risk offenders early release.
· Notifying potential victims of early released prisoners.
DISCUSSION
The State of California is trying to save five hundred million dollars by releasing over 6,500 inmates over the next year. In an effort to save money the state plan calls for inmates deemed "low-risk offenders" released early. The state also will stop monitoring low-level offenders after release.
Although an unfortunate statistic about 7 out of 10 offenders within the first three years of their release, under normal conditions, reoffend. The state in an attempt to save money has shifted this burden to the county and cities. .It is unfathomable to imagine a scenario where over 6,500 people, within the coming months, with no advance warning or information and with no help or parole supervision will not have a significant impact on our community.
Low risk offenders include people arrested and convicted of domestic violence. The state has not devised any plan to notify victims of domestic violence of the offenders' early release. The State is not required to notify local law enforcement and victims of the people who are released. Parole officers are not tracking the early released prisoners. Therefore they do not have the opportunity to stay on a positive path and are left in the wilderness without guidance or help.
The first major study of recidivism, the habitual relapse into crime, in more than a decade is from the Bureau of Justice Statistics Department. The report examined 272,111 former inmates in 15 states during the first three years after their release. The report indicates that the first year after an inmate is released is critical to his or her success in returning to society. For example, the study found that two-thirds of the inmates who were rearrested were done so within 12 months of their release. This report proves the importance of a solid plan to assist individuals re-entering into society and to prevent future crimes.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Garcia, Councilmember First District
Dee Andrews, Councilmember Sixth District
Vice Mayor Val Lerch, Ninth District