Drafter
Clerk 04/24/2003
Title
A MOTION relating to implementation of the Juvenile Justice Operational Master Plan, authorizing the preparation of a study to assess and make recommendations regarding the Reinvesting in Youth savings reinvestment strategy and expressing King County support for the principle of savings reinvestment pending the outcome of the study.
Body
WHEREAS, in 2000 the King County council, the county executive concurring, unanimously approved the Juvenile Justice Operating Master Plan (JJOMP), and
WHEREAS, the JJOMP expressed the intent of the council to rethink the way the county did the business of juvenile justice to reduce juvenile and adult crime and find better ways to serve the needs of at-risk youth and families in King County, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the JJOMP, major progress has been made in reducing the costs of juvenile justice and implementing research-based programs that reduce juvenile crime, and
WHEREAS, the Reinvesting in Youth program represents the logical next step in JJOMP plan implementation through careful investment in cost-effective intervention programs that are intended to further reduce juvenile and adult crime and reduce public safety costs by more than the cost of the programs, and
WHEREAS, Reinvesting in Youth has obtained foundation funding to start up and enhance programs that have been proven to reduce juvenile crime and the costs of that crime to King County in return for a commitment to reinvest a portion of King County's savings from those programs that can contribute to sustaining such services, and
WHEREAS, funding of programs for offenders or youth at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system is a shared responsibility between the private and public sectors, including not-for-profit organizations, businesses, foundations and all levels of government: federal, state, county, cities and schools. Sustaining successful programs sponsored by reinvesting in youth and funding their related administrative costs should also be shared by all of these entities, and
WHEREAS, Reinvesting in Youth, with bipartisan support from legislative members of its steering committee, is working to have the Washington State Institute for Public Policy conduct a study to develop recommendations that would provide for the reimbursement to local governments of the savings to the state that result from local government investments in proven, cost-effective intervention programs for at-risk youth and families, and
WHEREAS, to ensure multiyear support for the Reinvesting in Youth systems reform initiative from foundations and from other local governments, it is essential that King County also demonstrate multiyear commitment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The King County council supports in principle the policy that King County should reinvest at least that portion of the reduced costs of operating the juvenile justice system directly attributable to new or enhanced intervention and prevention services for youth and families. Implementation of this policy is contingent on satisfactory resolution of the issues addressed in the study described in subsection B of this motion.
B. The juvenile justice operational master plan oversight committee and staff shall work with the management team of Reinvesting in Youth to coordinate a study and prepare recommendations that shall address but not be limited to the following issues:
1. What criteria should be used to certify that a program has been "proven" to be effective in reducing recidivism?
2. What should be the methodology for establishing agreed reductions in public safety costs for King County resulting from the implementation of proven programs?
3. hat should be the processes for updating the criteria and methodology in 1 and 2 of this subsection?
4. How should long term cost reductions for King County, resulting from investments in proven programs, be converted into operational, budget-based reimbursements to support those programs?
5. What ongoing evaluation will be required to assure that proven programs are implemented so that their quality and cost effectiveness are sustained?
C. Reinvesting in Youth shall provide financial support for this study. The study team shall take all practical steps to coordinate with and seek input from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy and any other state agencies that may be involved in the state study.