TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Prosecutor to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents, including any amendments, to receive and expend grant funding awarded by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program, in an amount not to exceed $900,000, for the period through September 30, 2024; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the City Prosecutor Department by $900,000, offset by grant revenue from United States Department of Justice. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach (City) Prosecutor’s Office has been selected to receive a grant by the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program (COSSAP). This grant will provide $900,000 for the period ending September 30, 2024, to expand the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program in Long Beach.
LEAD is a national program that aligns local police and prosecutor agencies with social service providers for pre-booking diversion. Through LEAD, pre-booking diversion can be achieved when officers encounter individuals with lower level offenses, such as drug possession, public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, but instead of issuing a citation or arresting the suspect, officers make a strategic referral directly to a social service provider.
Los Angeles County LEAD Pilot Program
In 2017, the City’s Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Beach Police Department were selected to participate in California’s first LEAD pilot program in partnership with Los Angeles County (LAC LEAD). The LAC LEAD pilot was funded by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC). The pilot provided $5.9M for intensive case management, social services, housing, and program costs.
The LEAD grant was limited in two ways. First, a specific area was selected for the pilot program, roughly along Long Beach Boulevard and the Los Angeles River, from Market Street in North Long Beach to the Century Freeway. Second, services could only be provided to 300 persons (clients). These limitations were required in order to conduct an evidence-based evaluation of the program.
CSULB’s School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management, was selected to perform the evaluation of LAC LEAD. The evaluators found the LAC LEAD pilot to be a success in many regards, including a reduction in crime and improved perception of law enforcement.
The evaluation included interviews with LAC LEAD clients, and made the following findings based on client responses:
• The overall wellbeing of the clients improved after then entered LEAD.
• Clients reduced their substance use.
• Clients experienced less victimization (thefts, threats, sexual assaults, and attacks).
• The LEAD program improved the perception of clients toward law enforcement.
The evaluation compared LAC LEAD clients to a similarly situated comparison group. After six months, misdemeanor arrests were almost two times (193 percent higher for individuals in the comparison group. Felony arrests were seven times (721 percent) higher for the comparison group.
The researchers also found that the LEAD program saves money. Specifically, that the lower recidivism for LEAD LAC clients translates into a one-year criminal justice system utilization cost savings of $3,974, compared to those who were not in LEAD. (Evaluation details can be found at: <https://cityprosecutordoughaubert.com/law-enforcement-assisted-diversion/>)
New COSSAP Grant for LEAD
Receiving this new COSSAP funding from the USDOJ will allow Long Beach to expand the previous pilot LEAD LAC into a full-fledged program. Working with the Long Beach Police Department, the Health and Human Services Department, and local nonprofits, the City Prosecutor’s Office plans to further develop the highly successful LEAD model to other areas of Long Beach.
The COSSAP grant is the third major grant awarded to the City Prosecutor’s Office. In 2019, the City Prosecutor’s Office was selected to receive a grant of $360,000 from the USDOJ, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance to develop an information-sharing app known as GUIDES. That app is currently in beta testing.
Portions of the COSSAP funding will be directed to the Long Beach Police Department, a service provider to provide case management, as well as fund a research partner to evaluate the program as it develops. The COSSAP grant will cover all costs of the program, therefore, no additional City funding is required.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Monica Kilaita on April 5, 2022, and Budget Operations and Development Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on April 7, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to execute an agreement is requested on April 19, 2022, to ensure then grant is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive grant funding in an amount not to exceed $900,000 for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2024, for substance abuse site-based programs. An appropriation increase of $900,000, offset by grant revenues, is requested in the General Grants Fund Group in the City Prosecutor’s Office. No match or in-kind service mandate is required, and there is no local job impact associated with this recommendation. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
DOUGLAS P. HAUBERT,
CITY PROSECUTOR