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County Implementation Plan for Public Safety Realignment to Take Effect Oct. 1
September 29, 2011 (San Diego) -- The County is preparing for the shift of thousands of offenders from state to local supervision using a plan approved by the Board of Supervisors today.“We know we can provide better public safety services than the state, but we cannot allow them to pass the buck without also passing along the dollars,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Horn.
Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins presented the plan, which outlines strategies to implement Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109), the 2011 Criminal Justice Realignment Act. It takes effect October 1st. Jenkins is the head of the Community Corrections Partnership, whose executive committee was responsible for the implementation plan under AB 109.
“About 4,000 offenders will now fall under the supervision of our Probation Department and the Sheriff’s Department. Our plan efficiently uses the limited funds available by building on the successful strategies of the local criminal justice community to reduce crime and recidivism while keeping the community safe,” said Jenkins.
About half of the criminals are post-release offenders who would have been supervised by state parole upon release but will now be supervised by the County Probation Department. The other half are non- violent, non-serious, non-sex offenders who will serve their sentences in County jails instead of state prison.
The implementation plan has five main components: 1) enhance pre-trial processes to more effectively utilize current jail capacity; 2) improve and streamline felony settlement; 3) encourage the use of evidence-based practices into sentencing for felony offenders; 4) employ alternative custody options and in- custody programming; 5) provide evidence-based supervision and intervention services for post-release offenders.
Members of the Community Corrections Partnership executive committee include the Sheriff, District Attorney, Public Defender, local law enforcement, court, and Health and Human Services Agency. For more information, visit the Community Corrections Partnership website.
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