HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-2018 Item 12 - Grand Jury Response - Residential Detox in SLO County Meeting Date: 7/10/2018
FROM: Derek Johnson, City Manager
Prepared By: Deanna Cantrell, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: GRAND JURY RESPONSE REGARDING RESIDENTIAL DETOXIFICATION
IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the County of San Luis Obispo Grand Jury (Attachment A) response regarding
evaluation of a pre-booking substance abuse diversion program.
DISCUSSION
On June 1, 2017, the City of San Luis Obispo received a letter from the San Luis Obispo Grand
Jury following up on the 2016-17 Grand Jury report, titled Residential Detoxification in San Luis
Obispo County. The City was asked to provide a status update on Recommendation #9.
R9. The San Luis Obispo City Council should evaluate the Law Enforcement Assisted
Diversion program or a similar pre-booking substance abuse diversion for City
implementation as a means of motivating and engaging young adult arrestees who are
assessed to be primarily substance abusers and not criminally oriented. A written evaluation
by the City Manager should be reviewed at a mee ting of the San Luis Obispo City Council,
by June 2018.
While the City agrees that diversion programs such as the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
Program, or LEAD, are beneficial for those identified as primarily substance abusers , there are
numerous programs available that already provide services to our community through San Luis
Obispo County Behavioral Health, the County Court System and the District Attorney’s Office.
Drug, alcohol or other court programs are administered by the Courts which are a subdivision of
the State of California.
In San Luis Obispo , there are numerous programs operated in conjunction with the County, that
provide similar services to meet this need and are already in existence. The City shares and
appreciates the concern of t he Grand Jury that the City be aware of the need for a residential
detoxification center and the need for alternatives to criminal sentences for those addicted to
drugs or alcohol. As the Council is aware, the City is in the process of establishing a case worker
to work with the CAT team. Lastly, the County is currently in the early planning stages to
determine a potential location for a detox facility.
City staff believes that with so many existing programs that meet different needs for substance
abuse o ffenders, an additional program is not necessary at this time. Additionally, another
program such as LEAD would require significant funding, planning , and staffing that cannot be
supported by the City of San Luis Obispo at this time. The City is willing to work with the
County on an endeavor, but the County should be primary on developing any other programs.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
There is no environmental impact associated with the r eceive and file of the County of San Luis
Obispo Grand Jury response regarding evaluation of a pre-booking substance abuse diversion
program
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact on the City’s General Fund associated with this action.
ALTERNATIVE
Council may direct staff to do further research on a program in conjunction with the County of San
Luis Obispo and or may supplement the response provided by staff.
Attachments:
a - Grand Jury Response 2018
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