Preparing For County Realignment Program
Sonora, CA– The Tuolumne County Supervisors have approved a plan that addresses the Public Safety Realignment Act.
AB 109 was passed to help alleviate prison overcrowding as well as the state’s financial crisis. It redefines the definition of felonies, transfers parole duties from state to county control, and implements a variety of alternative custody type programs.
“These are a population of about 51 over a four year rollout period for Tuolumne County of prisoners that are being released that have been designated on their committing offense as being non-violent, non-serious, non-sex offenders,” said Chief Probation Officer Adele Arnold. “We have a few scheduled for release in October. We have a couple more in November, and we have some that we are starting to receive packets for in December.”
Under AB 109, each county is required to submit a Community Correction Plan (CCP). The Tuolumne County CCP, comprised of the Sheriff, District Attorney, Chief Probation Officer, Behavioral Health Director and others recently submitted their recommendations to the board.
Proposed alternative treatment programs being considered include a Day Reporting Center, Electronic Monitoring Program, Day Treatment Center Program and Work Release.
To house the treatment programs, the CCP reviewed the possibility of leasing the former Social Security Building on Highway 49, the County Facilities building on W. Jackson Street, an empty furniture store on Stockton Road and the old Employment Development building on Mono Way.
After conducting meetings to gather input from local neighboring communities and other research, the CCP agreed that the most suitable site for the Treatment Center is the Highway 49 location. A lease has been prepared by the County Administration’s Office and will be presented to the Board on November 1st for consideration.
Today the supervisors unanimously approved the AB 109 Community Corrections Implementation Plan to include the budget modifications in the amount of $641,018 and the hiring of staff. Behavioral Interventions, Inc. was also approved to operate the Day Reporting Center and Electronic Monitoring Program.
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
