ADOPTED - OCTOBER 28, 2008

Agenda Item No. 20

Introduced by the Law Enforcement, Judiciary and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH

SENTINEL OFFENDER SERVICES  OR AN OFFENDER FUNDED

ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROGRAM

RESOLUTION #08-303

WHEREAS, the Law Enforcement Committee scheduled several meetings early in 2007 to address the complex problems associated with jail overcrowding; and

WHEREAS, at the conclusion of these informational meetings, a series of recommendations were forwarded to the Jail Utilization Coordinating Committee (JUCC) for further review and recommendations, including the recommendation that use of electronic monitoring (EM) be increased; and 

WHEREAS, JUCC members agreed that jail utilization can be improved by utilizing an EM program by the Sheriff’s Office for appropriate jail inmates released early to EM and by Pretrial Services for appropriate defendants on pre-trial status; and

WHEREAS, JUCC members agreed to proceed through a JUCC Sub-Committee charged with meeting with vendors to explore available equipment and services, assisting with a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, and making a final recommendation to the County; and

WHEREAS, after distributing and receiving responses to an RFP, the JUCC sub-committee agrees that EM services can be made available through a completely offender funded client fee structure that will allow electronic monitoring to be available to the largest possible number of clients with varying financial capabilities, including provisions for indigent offenders; and 

WHEREAS, after completing the RFP process, including presentations from selected vendors, the JUCC Sub-Committee recommended that a contract be pursued with Sentinel Offender Services; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners authorized in Resolution #08-244 the selection of Sentinel Offender Services subject to a final agreement; and

WHEREAS, Sentinel Offender Services is willing to provide services pursuant to the attached scope of services in a location provided within the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office and pursuant to a fee schedule that is agreeable to Ingham County referral sources; and

WHEREAS, the contract with Sentinel will stipulate that a target minimum number of seventy-five (75) active program participants be maintained with a ramp up period of 60 days from the date that the EM Office is ready to receive clients, and that there will be no cost to the County provided that enrollment numbers are met; and

WHEREAS, enrollment projections of the combined populations referred by Pretrial Services, the Ingham County Jail and the 55th District Court are adequate to implement the program as a self sustaining resource that can be maintained by client fees. 

ADOPTED - OCTOBER 28, 2008

Agenda Item No. 20

RESOLUTION #08-303

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners authorizes entering into a contract with Sentinel Offender Services for electronic monitoring program services as set forth in the attached Scope of Services for an initial twelve (12) month performance period beginning December 1, 2008, to be automatically renewed thereafter for periods of one year not to exceed an additional four years, absent written notice of termination by either party no later than 90 days prior to the end of the performance period.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board Chairperson and County Clerk are authorized to sign any necessary contracts\subcontracts consistent with this resolution subject to approval as to form by the County Attorney.  

LAW ENFORCEMENT:  Yeas:  Holman, Copedge, Celentino, De Leon, Tennis, Schafer

      Nays: None             Absent:  None          Approved 10/16/08

JUDICIARY:  Yeas:  Tennis, Bahar-Cook, Holman, Nolan, Schafer

      Nays: None             Absent:  Weatherwax-Grant          Approved 10/16/08

FINANCE:  Yeas:  Grebner, Hertel, Celentino, Dougan

Nays:  None     Absent:  Schor, Weatherwax-Grant   Approved 10/22/08 

ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROGRAM

SCOPE OF SERVICES

Accept referrals from multiple referral sources (e.g., Circuit and District Courts, Pretrial Services, Ingham County Sheriff’s Office) from within Ingham County.

Provide all services locally using a community-based program approach that will include client enrollment, installation and removal of monitoring equipment, input of monitoring specifications, and equipment activation within 24 hours after referral, client orientation, fee assessment and collection, staff availability for Court testimony upon request, problem resolution, and equipment maintenance.

Provide a case management program component that requires regular in-person reporting, on-site breath and drug testing as may be required and provides referral information regarding other community resources and services as deemed appropriate.

Serve as a collaborative partner by developing and maintaining strong working relationships with referral sources and other County personnel and by serving as an active, participating member of the EM Oversight Committee, including attending regular meetings to ensure successful implementation, successful ongoing operations and problem resolution.  

Provide a completely offender funded client fee structure that will allow electronic monitoring to be available to the largest possible number of clients with varying financial capabilities, including provisions for indigent offenders.

Provide a full range of reliable, user-friendly, tamper-proof equipment to include home monitoring, active and passive GPS (that allows direct contact between the supervising program and the offender) and Breath Alcohol monitoring.  

Provide secure monitoring services to ensure continuous electronic monitoring 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year with secure web-based internet access to client referral sources.  

Provide non-compliance alerts and notifications to referral source personnel as specified by the referring agency.

Collect program data and statistics and financial information for all services and provide to the County upon request.

Electronic Monitoring Program

Client Fee Schedule for Sentinel Offender Services

Services

Daily Electronic Monitoring (Radio Frequency only)                                  $  8.00 per day

Global Positioning (GPS) Tracking                                                   $10.00 per day

Radio Frequency/MEMS Breath Alcohol Testing                                      $10.00 per day

Global Positioning (GPS)/MEMS Breath Alcohol Testing              $16.00 per day

Sliding Scale Fees:

Sentinel Offender Services will work in cooperation with Ingham County and the Electronic Monitoring Oversight Committee to formulate a sliding-scale fee structure that will offer a range of fees for low income participants, as well as for those with a higher ability to pay.

Indigent Offender Services:

Sentinel Offender Services will provide services at no cost for offenders identified as indigent for up to ten percent (10%) of the program participants during the contract period.

Sentinel Offender Services will also collect an enrollment fee to be returned to the County to be used as an additional resource to fund services for indigent offenders.