To: Board of Supervisors
From: Diana Becton, District Attorney
Report Title: BJA FY2024 National Community Courts Initiative Grant Application
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the District Attorney, or designee, to apply for and accept the FY2024 National Community Courts Initiative Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), in an amount not to exceed $900,000, for a Community Court Enhancement Program, for the period October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The County will receive up to $900,000 over the 48-month grant period. A 25% cash (not to exceed $300,000) or in-kind match of the total project's cost is required. The required match may be waived upon request.
BACKGROUND:
With the FY2024 National Community Courts Initiative solicitation, BJA seeks to support efforts to establish and enhance community courts. This program furthers the DOJ's mission by providing resources to communities to enhance public safety and build trust between law enforcement and the community.
Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office has an existing community court program known as the Neighborhood Restorative Partnership (NRP). NRP is an alternative resolution to a criminal case. It is a community-based, adult, prefiling program. NRP uses restorative justice principals to resolve low-level, nonviolent offenses outside of the traditional courtroom, and diverts cases out of the criminal justice system. NRP Panelists (volunteers) are residents who live and work in the community and are trained to hear cases and create plans that enable the participant to address harms caused to the community and parties affected by the incident. NRP keeps low-level non-violent offenders out of the criminal justice system, keeps criminal convictions off their record, and aids in preventing obstacles to obtaining emp...
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