Summary of August 2014 EOCJ Subcommitte Meeting - Gary R. Syphus Last Updated: September 23, 2014
The Executive Office and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee held an
all-day interim meeting at the Salt Lake County Youth Services facility on August 5, 2014. Much of the focus was the (1) Division of Juvenile Justice Services possible alternative funding options for receiving centers, (2) Corrections' Adult Probation and Parole/Treatment/Work Programs, (3) followup on intent language, and (4) additional detail on "off-budget funds".
Juvenile Justice Services Receiving Centers
Salt Lake County Youth Services is a receiving center model that is functioning as a state-county
partnership (a receiving center is a facility where law enforcement personnel are able to
drop off juvenile offenders to be assessed and law enforcement can swiftly return
to work in the field). Staff presented this as a model that could be expanded
to more receiving centers across the state, as many others are solely state-run
and state-funded and could possibly employ the Salt Lake County model.
The Salt Lake County Youth Services Director presented in more
detail how the facility operates. Other related presentations included those from the Chair of
Juvenile Justice Board and the Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and
Mental Health on the history of the current Juvenile Justice model, and another presentation on how
Medicaid factors into the division's funding.
Corrections
Adult Probation and Parole Operations - The Adult Probation and Parole Director reported on
the implementation of the recommendations from the legislative audit entitled "A Performance Audit of the Division of Adult Probation and Parole". This report
included a team that has helped to create a standardized violation matrix. With
the help of Department of Technology Services, the Adult Probation and Parole
program will be implementing metrics and dashboards to provide better outcome
information. They reported on their success with the Female Offender
Success Initiative (FOSI) that females are returning to prison once released
from prison.
Treatment/Work Programs - The Department of Corrections presented information on substance abuse treatment and work program for inmates. Substance abuse
treatment within the prison helps reduce recidivism of those that complete the
program by 12-15%. Thus far, they report that substance abuse treatment within
county jails (that are being tracked) have either shown no improvement are too
early to be evaluated. The department reports that sex offender treatment and
post-secondary education have reduced parolee return to prison by 8%. The also discussed changes to Correctional Industries that allowed for
more production with the same level of resources and how this is a helpful program
to give inmates work experience and training.
Intent Language
Follow-Up
Corrections - The
Department of Corrections reported on the progress of the
findings/recommendations on the in-depth legislative audit entitled "An In-depth Budget Review of the Utah Department of Corrections". The current offsite
outpatient care is provided by the University of Utah. The Department pursued a
Request for Information from other providers at a cost saving rate for future contracts.
The Department reported that the current prescription drug provider was the
most cost effective after researching other options. They are working with the
Department of Health to see if all medical claims could be processed through
their claims software to streamline the process.
They discussed the use of "second
market" (overstock goods sold at a lower price) purchases to help lower food
costs. Corrections found some savings and are
expanding the commodities purchased on the "second market". They explained that
the recommendation to increase freezer space at the prison was explored but was
cost prohibitive, and that they have are working to improve menu options.
Courts - The Courts'
Juror Witness Line Item Courts submitted a report to the subcommittee on line
item expenditures and the Courts
Off-budget
Funds Review
The subcommittee heard
presentations of outstanding off-budget funds where more information was requested during the 2014 General Session:
- Attorney General Financial Crimes Trust Fund,
- Attorney General Consumer
Programs Fund,
- Attorney General Crime & Violence Prevention Fun,
- Abortion Litigation Account,
- Public Safety-Seized Cash Fund.
- Misdemeanor
Fines Fund,
- Surcharge Fines Fund, and
- Juvenile Courts Trust Account.
The Executive Office and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee held an all-day interim meeting at the Salt Lake County Youth Services facility on August 5, 2014. Much of the focus was the (1) Division of Juvenile Justice Services possible alternative funding options for receiving centers, (2) Corrections' Adult Probation and Parole/Treatment/Work Programs, (3) followup on intent language, and (4) additional detail on "off-budget funds".
Juvenile Justice Services Receiving Centers
Salt Lake County Youth Services is a receiving center model that is functioning as a state-county partnership (a receiving center is a facility where law enforcement personnel are able to drop off juvenile offenders to be assessed and law enforcement can swiftly return to work in the field). Staff presented this as a model that could be expanded to more receiving centers across the state, as many others are solely state-run and state-funded and could possibly employ the Salt Lake County model.
The Salt Lake County Youth Services Director presented in more detail how the facility operates. Other related presentations included those from the Chair of Juvenile Justice Board and the Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health on the history of the current Juvenile Justice model, and another presentation on how Medicaid factors into the division's funding.
Corrections
Adult Probation and Parole Operations - The Adult Probation and Parole Director reported on the implementation of the recommendations from the legislative audit entitled "A Performance Audit of the Division of Adult Probation and Parole". This report included a team that has helped to create a standardized violation matrix. With the help of Department of Technology Services, the Adult Probation and Parole program will be implementing metrics and dashboards to provide better outcome information. They reported on their success with the Female Offender Success Initiative (FOSI) that females are returning to prison once released from prison.
Treatment/Work Programs - The Department of Corrections presented information on substance abuse treatment and work program for inmates. Substance abuse treatment within the prison helps reduce recidivism of those that complete the program by 12-15%. Thus far, they report that substance abuse treatment within county jails (that are being tracked) have either shown no improvement are too early to be evaluated. The department reports that sex offender treatment and post-secondary education have reduced parolee return to prison by 8%. The also discussed changes to Correctional Industries that allowed for more production with the same level of resources and how this is a helpful program to give inmates work experience and training.
Intent Language Follow-Up
Corrections - The Department of Corrections reported on the progress of the findings/recommendations on the in-depth legislative audit entitled "An In-depth Budget Review of the Utah Department of Corrections". The current offsite outpatient care is provided by the University of Utah. The Department pursued a Request for Information from other providers at a cost saving rate for future contracts. The Department reported that the current prescription drug provider was the most cost effective after researching other options. They are working with the Department of Health to see if all medical claims could be processed through their claims software to streamline the process.
They discussed the use of "second market" (overstock goods sold at a lower price) purchases to help lower food costs. Corrections found some savings and are expanding the commodities purchased on the "second market". They explained that the recommendation to increase freezer space at the prison was explored but was cost prohibitive, and that they have are working to improve menu options.
Courts - The Courts'
Juror Witness Line Item Courts submitted a report to the subcommittee on line
item expenditures and the Courts
Off-budget Funds Review
The subcommittee heard presentations of outstanding off-budget funds where more information was requested during the 2014 General Session:
- Attorney General Financial Crimes Trust Fund,
- Attorney General Consumer Programs Fund,
- Attorney General Crime & Violence Prevention Fun,
- Abortion Litigation Account,
- Public Safety-Seized Cash Fund.
- Misdemeanor Fines Fund,
- Surcharge Fines Fund, and
- Juvenile Courts Trust Account.