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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2001.09.06 - 26681MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #01232 September 6, 2001 BY: Public Services Committee, David L. Moffitt, Chairperson IN RE: SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CONTINUATION OF INMATE ZERO TOLERANCE/TREATMENT PROGRAM To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS Miscellaneous Resolution #00248 continued the Inmate Zero Tolerance/Treatment program; and WHEREAS the Michigan Department of Community Health, Office of Drug Control Policy has denied funding for this project into the next fiscal year; and WHEREAS this program is in its eleventh year of existence and provides community release for offenders who agree to comply with program requirements (see attached); and WHEREAS the Inmate Zero Tolerance/Treatment Program provides substance abuse services within the corrections systems consisting of assessments, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous services, Chemical Dependency Classes and relapse prevention services (see attached); and WHEREAS the Inmate Zero Tolerance program consists of 5 full-time and 1 PTNE staff; and WHEREAS the Sheriff is committed to maintaining substance abuse services in the jail system and in the community in efforts to reduce recidivism and wishes to continue with this program; and WHEREAS in order to accomplish this task, the Sheriff is requesting that the Board of Commissioners provide funding for this program in the 2001/2002 Budget; and WHEREAS the Board of Commissioners supports the idea of alternatives to incarceration, and the Zero Tolerance Program is a viable, effective program, which over the past three years has a program completion success rate of 66%; and WHEREAS the Inmate Zero Tolerance Program reveals that in a random sample conducted in January 2001, of 73 program participants from 1999, 72.6% had not returned to the criminal justice system; and WHEREAS the Inmate Zero Tolerance Program is a proven effective means of reducing the jail population, as data from the past three years alone indicate a savings of 128,726 jail bed days with a concomitant cost savings of $9,784,824; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners authorizes the continued funding for the Inmate Zero Tolerance/Treatment Program under the direction of the Oakland County Sheriff. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following positions in Unit 43320 be continued and changed from Special Revenue funding to General Fund/General Purpose funding: Position # Classification Status 07101 Inmate Substance Abuse Supervisor FTE 07209 Inmate Substance Abuse Technician FTE 07210 Inmate Substance Abuse Technician FTE 07791 Inmate Substance Abuse Technician FTE 09125 Inmate Substance Abuse Technician PTNE 07208 Clerk II FTE Chairperson, on behalf of the Public Services Committee, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Public Services Committee Vote: Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with McPherson and Galloway absent. COUNTY OF OAKLAND OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF MICHAEL J. BOUCHARD INMATE ZERO TOLERANCE/TREATMENT PROGRAM SUMMARY This Program offers substance abuse services to incarcerated inmates as well as providing a community-based alternative sentencing option for substance abusers. The Inmate Zero Tolerance Program provides a drug screening and monitoring program for non-violent offenders, and successful completion of the program results in the remainder of their jail sentence being suspended. Participants are Court-ordered into the Program, assessed by Technicians for Program acceptance and provided community resource and referral information. Each participant is required to pay a $75 fee. Non-compliance with program requirements (such as positive drug tests, non-attendance at treatment) results in immediate consequences in the form of sanctions as follows: 3 days jail and/or out-patient treatment; 10 days jail and/or 21 days inpatient at Alternative Incarceration Center; 30 days jail and/or 21 days AIC; or reinstatement of original jail sentence. During the past five years, approximately 2,000 inmates have participated in this Program with a cumulative success rate of 66% completion. For the same five year time period, a total of slightly over 190,000 jail bed days were saved which assists tremendously in maintaining a burgeoning inmate population. A recidivism study conducted on 100 past program participants from 1997 and 1998 indicated 56% had not been charged with any new crimes. The services offered by this Program within the jail system include coordination of the Alcoholic and Narcotic Anonymous (AA/NA) services; chemical dependency education classes; relapse prevention services; community resource referrals and assessments. There are currently 65 AA/NA volunteers at the various facilities conducting sixteen separate weekly meetings. In addition, there are six chemical dependency classes conducted on a weekly basis. These services are able to reach at least 245 inmates participating on a weekly basis. The classes deal with relapse prevention issues as well as offering referral services. Technicians also provide individual contacts with inmates for substance abuse assessments and information, upon request. 1201 N. Telegraph Road * Pontiac, Michigan 48341-1044 * (248) 858-5008 .16(s.0 /0 :1 , ba.c2 Sincerely, . _ Zbe Circuit Court for Or ixtb Yubitial Circuit of Silicbigan GENE SCNNELZ CIRCUIT JUDGE August 21, 2001 Frank H. Millard, Jr. Chairperson, Oakland County Board of Commissioners Court Tower - Ground Floor Building #12 East County Service Center Pontiac, MI 48341 Dear Chairperson Millard, Please add my name to the list of Judges who endorse the continuance of the existing Inmate Zero Tolerance/Treatment Program. As Judges, we are limited by what programs are available to us. It is disappointing when one of these major programs is suddenly eliminated with nothing to replace it. I recognize that funding is limited in our County but this is a worthwhile project. Gene Schnelz GS/mm cc 6.1<riff M. Bouchard Ann Russell, Corrections Admin. .i, Resolution #01232 September 6, 2001 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Personnel and Finance Committees. There were no objections.