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DATE: |
December 10, 2024 |
01 |
SUBJECT: ENHANCING ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION TO INCLUDE UNIVERSAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND EXPANDED CARE COORDINATION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
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OVERVIEW
On May 21, 2024 (22), the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to assess the feasibility of a pilot program for transportation options for individuals released from the Vista Detention Facility (VDF). Public Safety Group (PSG) staff collaborated with the Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, Public Defender’s Office, and Health and Human Services Agency for this assessment. In a memo and attachment to this Board letter, staff provided information and analysis about releases and transportation options for the County’s seven detention facilities (Attachment A).
The memo highlights areas of opportunity for service interventions for individuals at the point of being released from jail, including those who “quick cycle” through the system. Today’s action seeks to address the need to expand transportation options, including the successful use of public transportation, when individuals are released from jail. We have heard from community members and local elected officials that those released from VDF struggle to navigate the public transportation systems and are left wandering the streets of Vista. Limited transportation options are barriers to reentry, exacerbating challenges faced by the formerly incarcerated population and hindering their ability to rebuild their lives. Additionally, we have a responsibility to ensure that we limit the negative impact on the communities that surround our detention facilities.
Today’s action also seeks to address the need for a plan for care coordination with housing in North County. In the memo provided to the Board, County staff explained that care coordination services are generally provided to individuals with time in custody for individualized assessments and coordination with a program; however, most people released from VDF are released after a few hours or a couple of days. Additional focus on connecting “quick cyclers” in North County with care coordination and connections to housing will likely lead to increasing the number of individuals who experience successful reentry, thus leading to reduced recidivism, and safer communities.
Today’s actions seek to address gaps in transportation and care coordination, with a goal of universal transportation for those released from County detention facilities regionwide and a plan for expanding care coordination at VDF, including a housing component, for individuals in need of immediate housing connection services in North County. These vital aspects should be included in the next Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) update and Work Plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS
SUPERVISOR JIM DESMOND
1. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with staff in the Public Safety Group, the Sheriff’s Office, other County departments, and the community through the Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) Advisory Group to include in the next Alternatives to Incarceration Work Plan:
a. A plan for actions to extend universal transportation to those released from County detention facilities, including cost and funding source. This may include transit passes for every individual released from custody, transportation provided from all facilities to the ATI Resource and Reentry Hub planned for central San Diego, and transportation to a requested location within the County.
b. A plan for actions to expand care coordination and connections to housing for those exiting the Vista Detention Facility, including cost and funding source.
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Sheriff’s Office to implement a step of the release process that ensures released individuals receive effective information on how to utilize public transportation.
3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to include updates on Recommendations 1 and 2 in the early 2025 return to the Board of Supervisors on the Alternatives to Incarceration workplan previously directed March 12, 2024 (20).
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
This initiative aims to address barriers that individuals face upon release from the Vista Detention Facility and other detention facilities, particularly transportation access, care coordination, and housing support. By providing universal transportation options for those released from County detention facilities and essential guidance on public transit, the initiative promotes equitable access to resources that reduce recidivism. Care coordination and a housing component in North County further address regional disparities, supporting successful reintegration and continuity of care. These actions contribute to broader county goals of reducing justice involvement and enhancing public safety.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed action to provide transportation, along with care coordination and housing options, for individuals released from the County Detention Facilities would advance equity and contribute to several of the County of San Diego Sustainability Goals: engaging the community, providing just and equitable access, and protecting health and well-being. In terms of sustainability across equity, economy, and health, these efforts support communities and socio-economic groups disproportionately affected by incarceration. By connecting individuals to essential resources and stable housing, this initiative fosters long-term economic stability, improves health outcomes, and promotes community resilience.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for these requests are included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operational Plan based on existing staff time in the Public Safety Group, Sheriff’s Office and other impacted departments. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years. There may be fiscal impacts associated with future related recommendations which staff would return to the Board for consideration and approval.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
On May 21, 2024 (22), the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to assess the feasibility of a pilot program for transportation options for individuals released from the Vista Detention Facility (VDF). Public Safety Group (PSG) staff collaborated with the Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, Public Defender’s Office, and Health and Human Services Agency for this assessment. County staff reported back with a memo included as Attachment A.
This assessment showed a gap between individuals released from jail and those who receive support with transportation, reentry services, and housing upon release. The staff analysis showed particular areas of opportunity for intervention for individuals who “quick cycle” through the system. Today’s action seeks to address these gaps and meet the goals of:
Universal Transportation: Currently, when someone is released from the Vista Detention Facility (VDF) or another County facility, they are provided a public transit day pass only if they have $7.00 or less among their belongings. These individuals, whether they have been detained for hours or incarcerated for years, may have trouble navigating the public transportation system, even if they are provided a day pass. We have heard from community members and local elected officials that those released from VDF struggle to navigate the public transportation systems and are left wandering the streets of Vista. Limited transportation options act as barriers to reentry, exacerbating challenges faced by the formerly incarcerated population and hindering their ability to rebuild their lives.
Potential Solution: Provide all released individuals with universal transit passes and information and guidance on how to use the transit system. Ensure everyone released can make a phone call to coordinate their own transportation from jail or a transit stop. Provide transportation to the future Resource and Reentry Hub in the Central region. Coordinate with the individual's Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan, as appropriate, to provide Enhanced Care Management, Community Supports, and Medi-Cal benefits such as transportation.
The Board previously approved the procurement of a Resource and Reentry Hub (hub) for the Central region on March 12, 2024 (20). The hub will enable community-based and public agency partners to assist justice-involved individuals with basic needs, case management, housing and social services referrals, record clearance, employment, and behavioral health connections. While the hub is planned first for the Central Region, individuals from facilities across the County would benefit if transportation to the service at the point of release were available from all detention facilities, including VDF.
Care Coordination: Currently, a small percentage of individuals exiting a detention and reentry facility are released through a coordinated handoff program. Most people who are booked into VDF, San Diego Central Jail, and Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility are released within a few hours or days with no handoff to services or housing because of the limited time in custody for assessment and connection to a program.
Potential Solution: Plan to expand care coordination at VDF for released individuals. This may include on-site or nearby care coordinators (including but not limited to Enhanced Care Management and Community Support providers contracted by Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans), mobile unit(s), or kiosks; North County focus for new ATI Care Coordination program with client self-referral based on information and outreach provided at release with a plan for communication from Sheriff’s in-custody staff with care coordination programs.
Housing Component: Lack of short-term housing for individuals released from VDF to prevent homelessness and keep them engaged in care.
Potential Solution: Ensure that current and future contractors for care coordination have access to housing solutions in North County. The County’s Alternatives to Incarceration initiative and related County programs provide reentry, care coordination and housing through the region. However, the current ATI Work Plan does not delineate plans for North County or releases from VDF. Today’s action would direct County staff to work with the ATI Advisory Group to add specific plans for individuals released from VDF to the ATI Work Plan.
VDF serves as the primary point of intake for males and females arrested individuals in northern San Diego County. The population at VDF consists of incarcerated persons awaiting court proceedings, those with medical challenges, those under psychiatric care, an administrative separation unit, and defendants facing high-publicity trials.
While several longstanding and more recent efforts provide reentry services, care coordination, and housing to individuals released from VDF, release data from the Sheriff’s Office suggests a need to expand these services. Medi-Cal Transformation will include 90-day pre-release Medi-Cal coverage, care coordination, and a warm hand-off to Enhanced Care Management upon release. This is a challenge to coordinate for those rapidly leaving incarceration, but it provides support for transportation, housing, food, and a lead care coordinator upon release. It is anticipated that the 90-day pre-release could be implemented in San Diego County before the end of 2025, depending upon the Sheriff's office and County readiness.
Currently, 538 releases of 12,134 annual releases from VDF involve a coordinated release to a program. These coordinated releases include the work of housing-focused correctional counselors who coordinate transportation directly from custody to housing. Additionally, coordinated releases to services and housing occur through three County Community Care Coordination or “C3” programs. Care coordination, system navigation, and housing services are a strategy to assist people with multiple reentry needs, including placement in emergency and interim housing, healthcare, employment services, and other supportive services aimed to reduce recidivism and empower justice-involved clients to successfully re-integrate back into the community. Although some services are already being provided, the current programs focus on a period of in-custody engagement and work with individuals that have a known release date that provides the necessary time that is needed to plan and connect individuals with coordinated care.
The high number of individuals in custody who are released after just a few hours or days of being booked into jail should also be provided coordinated care and housing services. A plan for coordinating releases for individuals who “quick cycle” and other populations released from VDF should be reflected in the next ATI Work Plan. This plan may include services provided by a new ATI Care Coordination Program in the Health and Human Services Agency focused on “quick cyclers” and any other strategies for connecting individuals from VDF to various services, including care coordination and housing.
Today’s actions direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with staff to ensure that universal transportation, a plan for care coordination implementation for VDF is established, and that housing options in North County are included in the ATI Work Plan.
By investing in diverse transportation solutions tailored to the needs of the formerly incarcerated, we not only foster their chances of successful reintegration but also contribute to safer communities by potentially reducing recidivism rates. It’s not just about second chances; it’s about providing the necessary support for individuals to make meaningful changes and contribute positively to society. All individuals released from County jails should, at a minimum, have an ability to return to the community with the transportation, information, and access to services to help them connect to reentry services.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action supports the Community (Quality of Life and Partnership) Strategic Initiative in the County of San Diego’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan by helping to ensure safe communities that improve the quality of life for all residents.
Respectfully submitted,
JIM DESMOND
Supervisor, Fifth District
ATTACHMENTS
ATTACHMENT A- Board Memo: Exploring a Pilot Program for Alternative Transportation Options for Vista Detention Facility and Other San Diego Jails