Juvenile Justice Task Force

consolidation and streamlining of parenting and mentoring programs in the department; and e) outcome-based contracting.

    Chair Hillyard suggested that DHS, the Division of Youth Corrections, the juvenile courts, and public education review the recommendations in the report and begin an integrative effort to solve the issues identified.

    Dr. Suecarol Robinson, State Office of Education, said her office is in the process of developing a new master plan for students at risk. She indicated that these two plans would work well together in addressing the youth who are ungovernable and delinquent.

    Ms. Ann Foster, Valley Mental Health, expressed concerns about youth who go through multiple agencies without a thorough and accurate assessment. She suggested looking at a common way of assessing and identifying youth at an earlier stage. She also discussed the difficulty with trying to blend the financial structure which involves federal, state, and local agencies.

3.    Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP) Proposal

    Ms. Camille Anthony, Director, Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), along with Ms. Susan Burke, Juvenile Justice Specialist, CCJJ, distributed the handout "SHOCAP Coordinator" which explained the potential cost of running a SHOCAP program statewide. Ms. Anthony presented an overview of the job description of a SHOCAP coordinator, where this position could be housed, and the possible funding sources. She reviewed the costs for a full-time or part-time SHOCAP employee, along with the former funding to date.

    Ms. Anthony indicated it may be premature to hire a full-time employee and suggested that a coordinator could be hired on a consulting basis. Funds would be better spent assisting the counties to hire their own coordinators. She also informed the task force that CCJJ is planning, in cooperation with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in Washington, to provide a SHOCAP training and technical assistance seminar for the state in November which will be offered to all local governments statewide.

    Ms. Burke indicated that for a county to implement SHOCAP, two positions are necessary: a statewide coordinator to develop a standard implementation policy and a law enforcement officer to be assigned full time to work with SHOCAP.

    Ms. Anthony said Deputy Alan Pratt of Davis County recommended having the local person in place before funding the state position.

    Chair Hillyard asked Ms. Anthony to come back to the October or November meeting with some final recommendations for the task force to review.

4.    Information Regarding the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant and Proposed Senate Bill 10

    Ms. Camille Anthony, CCJJ, distributed two handouts "Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grants" and "S10: The Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offenders Act of 1997 Analysis." The Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant was intended to be a one-time appropriation by Congress to help with juvenile crime issues, with the intention of funding something more permanent in the future. She reviewed the requirements for accepting the $2,797,900 and the programs that are eligible for funding. She noted that some of the requirements would be difficult for Utah to meet, and that she has asked for a waiver from these requirements. Ms. Anthony said she will be signing the request for $2.8 million, assuming the wavier goes through. If the waiver does not go through, it will need to be reevaluated whether or not Utah accepts the money.

    Ms. Anthony presented an analysis on S10: The Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offenders Act of 1997. She explained that with the issue of trying minors in adult court at age 15 years and older, Utah would be able to qualify because it allows for a waiver process or a certification process through the court. Another area of concern was the record keeping which remains a stumbling block for the state. She said those that support S10 highlight the fact that it gets tough on prosecuting juvenile offenders. But others believe it may be too punitive and that it goes beyond what is necessary to impact juvenile crime. Ms. Anthony said the state needs to consider whether the strings attached to the funds are worth what it may cost the state in the future.

5.    Accounting of Sentencing Guideline Funding

    Mr. Gary Dalton, Director, Division of Youth Corrections (DYC), distributed a handout "Utah Division of Youth Corrections Youth Sentencing Guidelines Funding for Fiscal Year 1998." He briefed the task force on the accountability of the funding for DYC through the Juvenile Sentencing Guidelines. He said DYC did not expend all the money allocated because of the difficulty in getting contracts and programs in place. He presented an overview of the programs throughout the state in the three regions and the funds that have been allocated for the programs. He explained that the amount allocated to DYC was $4,277,300, with DYC actually spending $1,713,823 on 473 youth in the past year. He said the money will lapse this year with approximately $2.5 million in his budget, and that the Appropriations Committee has given him the opportunity to use it in a one-time expenditure.
                                        
    Mr. Duane Betournay, Adolescent Services Specialist, Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), distributed a handout "Division of Child and Family Services Accounting of

Sentencing Guideline Funding Reporting Period: July 1, 1996 - August 28, 1998." He said DCFS has approximately $330,000 to spend in a three-year period. He said DCFS has 32 youth in custody for 90 days or less under state supervision who meet the sentencing criteria. The approximate total of expenditures to date is $44,954.

    Mr. Betournay identified the types of services that DCFS offers, and expressed concern with the problems of tracking the youth. He said DCFS is in the process of creating a database system which will track these youth based on how they are referred into the system and how they are adjudicated. He also suggested focusing on how well the resources are being utilized.

6.    Adjournment

    MOTION: At 3:20 p.m., Rep. Bryson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Barth absent for the vote.