OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — The Oklahoma County Felony Justice Advisory Council (CJAC) met on Thursday afternoon for his or her first month-to-month assembly in individual for the reason that early days of the pandemic.
Through the subdued assembly, the Council heard displays on the ReMerge program, a amenities subcommittee, Psychological Well being points, a legislative replace from Carrie Slatton-Hodges, and an replace on the state of the Oklahoma County Detention Middle (Jail) from Belief CEO Greg Williams.
The physique was additionally knowledgeable concerning the potential development for Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan’s SHINE Program.
Authorities in response to columnist Marty Peercy
Finances
The primary order of enterprise on the CJAC agenda Thursday afternoon was the consent docket. At conferences of most public our bodies, the consent docket (or consent agenda) is an inventory of minor pro-forma enterprise objects which might be inconsequential sufficient to be voted by as one merchandise.
At CJAC’s Thursday assembly, nonetheless, the physique was known as to vote on a consent docket that included minutes of the earlier assembly, a report on expenditures and financials, and, to the shock of no less than one reporter, the complete proposed FY 2023 funds for the group.
SHINE
Included on this 12 months’s funds is a $12,000 allocation to the SHINE Program.
SHINE, which stands for Begin Serving to Impacted Neighborhoods All over the place, was based by District 2 County Commissioner Brian Maughan as a way of different sentencing for low-level offenders. SHINE has been a “group service” choice for Oklahoma County district judges, prosecutors, and protection attorneys to assist purchasers keep away from stays in Jail.
In keeping with Maughan, this 12 months will see a a lot bigger funding in SHINE in Oklahoma County.
At Thursday’s assembly of the County Finances Board, which consists of all elected county officers, the County voted to offer SHINE $200,000 for operations this 12 months. Added to that’s cash from Del Metropolis, CJAC, and doubtlessly from the Metropolis of Oklahoma Metropolis.
Maughan stated that the extra funding will permit this system to develop into a free-standing county program as an alternative of being below the auspices of Maughan’s workplace.
ReMerge
Jenna Morey, Government Director of ReMerge, gave a presentation concerning the standard native social service group.
Morey defined that this 12 months would be the tenth anniversary of ReMerge. The group serves moms with minor youngsters. Moms who’re going through non-violent felonies and who’ve an opportunity of being reunited with their youngsters are eligible for this system.
ReMerge serves 50 ladies at any given level, and roughly 75 ladies every year.
Morey stated that members have a recidivism charge of 4%, in comparison with a 20% charge for related populations launched straight from Division of Corrections custody.
ReMerge is at present ramping up the workforce readiness piece of their program. They’ve not too long ago began a bakery program known as Catalyst Cookies, whereby they’ll work on some job abilities with members. Morey introduced cookies from Catalyst for members of CJAC and for attendees of the assembly.
Morey additionally stated that Catalyst has not too long ago launched “take and bake” frozen cookie dough.
Amenities Subcommittee
Dan Straughan, a member of CJAC and Government Director of the Homeless Alliance, gave a quick presentation on progress from the Jail Amenities subcommittee.
Straughan stated that the members of the subcommittee have visited with a number of specialists. He additionally stated that participation on the subcommittee has been nice and insightful.
The subcommittee has created an RFP for a marketing consultant, as is de rigueur in authorities enterprise. Solicitation for the RFP is due on Might 26, so that they hope to have a marketing consultant in place by summer season.
This marketing consultant will assist the small group acknowledge if rehabilitation for the present Jail constructing is simpler than constructing a brand new facility.
Within the meantime, Oklahoma County will proceed to fund updates comparable to new locks and higher water dealing with to the crumbling and, reportedly, lethal facility.
Psychological Well being
Carrie Slatton-Hodges, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Division of Psychological Well being and Substance Abuse Providers, talked to the Council about advances and alternatives surrounding psychological well being therapy and different points in Oklahoma.
The best change in laws that psychological well being advocates noticed on this session was the passage of a brand new legislation relating to psychological well being transport. Beforehand the state legislation required any psychological well being transport to be carried out by legislation enforcement personnel. The brand new change in legislation states that if transport to a facility or mattress will take greater than half an hour, the transport may be completed by a separate physique.
Slatton-Hodges stated that the Division has created an RFP that might be launched quickly. A contractor might be chosen for the job. This has been already funded by the state.
She additionally stated that $7.5 million has been earmarked for rising disaster facilities and psychological well being pressing cares.
In July 2023, a brand new psychological well being disaster hotline might be rolled out statewide. At that time, any resident will have the ability to dial 988 for psychological well being disaster providers, as an alternative of being linked with doubtlessly harmful interactions with police.
Jail Operations
Newly elected Chair of the Jail Belief, former Metropolis Supervisor Jim Sofa, launched Jail CEO Greg Williams to offer an replace on Jail operations.
Williams’s remarks have been a lot the identical as his report at Monday’s Jail Belief.
Thursday’s morning inhabitants rely was in step with current counts. 1493 detainees have been counted, which included 120 folks awaiting transport to Division of Corrections custody. Williams stated roughly 26 of these have been transferred within the afternoon earlier than the assembly.
Williams reiterated that the Jail at present has no optimistic COVID-19 circumstances, and no one reporting signs of the identical.
CJAC will meet once more on June 17 at 3:00 p.m. That assembly can even be in individual, however the location has not been settled.
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Final Up to date Might 20, 2023, 10:45 PM by Brett Dickerson – Editor
The submit Felony Justice Advisory Council discusses Jail, SHINE, psychological well being appeared first on Oklahoma Metropolis Free Press.
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