CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                CITY COUNCIL AGENDA




Agenda Date:          September 21, 2020

Action Required:      Appropriation of grant funds

Presenter:            Susan Morrow, Offender Aid and Restoration

Staff Contact:        Susan Morrow, Offender Aid and Restoration
                      Ryan Davidson, Senior Budget and Management Analyst

Title:                Virginia Behavioral Health Docket Grant - $40,000




Background:

The City of Charlottesville, on behalf of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Therapeutic Docket
program, has received a Supreme Court of Virginia Behavioral Health Docket Grant in the
amount of $40,000 for operations of the therapeutic docket program, which is operated by
Offender Aid and Restoration (O.A.R.). The City of Charlottesville serves as fiscal agent
for the Supreme Court of Virginia Behavioral Health Docket Grant.

Discussion:

In its third year of operation, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Therapeutic Docket program
is a supervised 6 to 12 month treatment program that serves as an alternative to
incarceration for offenders. The Therapeutic Docket is a specialized docket within the
existing structure of the court system given the responsibility to handle cases involving
non-violent adult misdemeanor offenders who suffer from serious mental illness. The
program uses the power of the court to assist non-violent offenders to achieve wellness and
recovery through a combined system of intensive supervision, medication management,
mental health treatment, and regular court appearances.

The total program budget is $149,450 and includes three funding sources:

Supreme Court of V.A.:        $40,000
City of Charlottesville:      $54,450, (previously appropriated)
Albemarle County:             $55,000, (previously appropriated)
Alignment with City Council Vision and Strategic Plan:

This relates to the City of Charlottesville’s strategic goal to improve community health and
safety outcomes by connecting residents with effective resources (C8). The Therapeutic
Docket is a valuable, less expensive alternative to incarceration for certain criminal
offenders with serious mental illness which utilizes a blend of court-ordered supervision,
mental health treatment services, court appearances, and behavioral sanctions and
incentives to reduce recidivism and enhance personal accountability and mental health and
wellness among participants.


Community Engagement:

The Therapeutic Docket is a direct service provider and is engaged daily with non-violent
criminal offenders with serious mental illness who are at a high level of risk for reoffending
and have a high level of need due to mental illness. By collaborating with the Court system,
Region Ten Community Services Board, Partners for Mental Health, and the Sheriff’s
department, the Therapeutic Docket provides these offenders with a highly structured,
rigorously supervised system of treatment and criminal case processing that results in a
significant reduction in recidivism rates for program participants and graduates.
Participants gain access to the Therapeutic Docket through referrals from police, probation,
magistrates, defense attorneys and other local stakeholders. Participants have active
criminal cases pending in the General District Court. If they successfully complete the
program which takes a minimum of 6 months, participants may have their pending charges
dismissed. If participants are unsuccessful and have to be terminated from the program,
they return to court to face their original charges. Successful Therapeutic Docket
participants return the community’s investment in them by improving their mental health
status, maintaining compliance with treatment regimens, including medications, and
reducing their criminal behaviors in the community.


Budgetary Impact:

No additional City funding is required as the City’s match for this grant, $54,450, was
appropriated within the F.Y. 2021 Council Approved Budget as part of the City’s
contribution to Offender Aid and Restoration.


Recommendation:

Staff recommends approval and appropriation.


Attachments:

Appropriation
                                  APPROPRIATION
            Charlottesville - Albemarle Therapeutic Docket Grant Award
                                       $40,000

       WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of Virginia awarded the Supreme Court of
Virginia Behavioral Health Docket Grant in the amount of $40,000 for the Charlottesville
- Albemarle Therapeutic Docket in order to fund salaries, benefits, and operating
expenses; and

       WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville serves as the fiscal agent for this grant
program; and

       WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County both have
dedicated local matches to this grant, totaling $109,450; and

       WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period September 1, 2020 through June
30, 2021.

       NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of
Charlottesville, Virginia, that the sum of $40,000, received as a grant from the Supreme
Court of Virginia, is hereby appropriated in the following manner:


Revenues
$40,000        Fund:209       Internal Order: #1900371      G/L Account: 430110

Expenditures
$40,000      Fund:209         Internal Order: #1900371      G/L Account: 530670



        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this appropriation is conditioned upon the
receipt of $40,000 from the Supreme Court of Virginia.