Referred to: The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Walter and Legislators Fabiano, Haynes, Heppner and Parete)

Chairwoman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Eve Walter, offers the following:

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 410 of October 15, 2019 established the Ulster County Criminal Justice Reform Task Force (UC-CJRTF) which has set forth to evaluate existing and potential criminal justice programs, to ensure the best and most cost-effective delivery of services, and to explore opportunities for program expansion to help the greatest number of county residents who may be in need of services; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature is in receipt of, and has reviewed, the report of the UC-CJRTF; and

WHEREAS, the report finds that according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision approximately 43% of corrections inmates are returned to custody after release (DOCCS Fact Sheet, May, 2021) and the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) encouraged counties to develop a Re-Entry Taskforce to coordinating services to individuals who are returning to their communities after serving a state prison sentence and determined to be at moderate or high risk of reoffending; and

WHEREAS, in Ulster County Family of Woodstock, Inc. implements services to assist these individuals to return to our community from the prison system through supports including housing, counseling, and treatments to help them to succeed and not reoffend; and

WHEREAS, as a result, based on 2018 data, only 8% of released state inmates reoffended and these re-offenses typically occurred within two months of release; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Sheriff has been actively pursuing partnerships with local businesses to provide occupational training to individuals held in our jail with the hopes of transitioning these individuals to jobs upon release; and

WHEREAS, we have no formalized reentry program to support those who are released from our jail to support their reentry and provide the skills and care they need to not reoffend; and

WHEREAS, the UC-CJRTF believes that a program  reflective of that which is provided in the state prison system, including: assessing during incarceration an individual’s employment, housing, education/training, substance abuse and mental health needs, providing training and support for individuals while incarcerated, and providing continued training and support upon release, will substantially benefit individuals incarcerated in Ulster County as well as the communities to which they return; and

WHEREAS, the County Executive’s Justice and Reform Plan suggests the immediate action of 1) [creating] discharge plans that connect incarcerated people to housing, mental health treatment, and jobs prior to release; and 2) [increase] job training programs to upskill incarcerated people and connect them to jobs upon release”; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature requests the County Executive, in consultation with the Ulster County Sheriff, develop and initiate the request for proposals (RFP) procurement process to contract for the implementation and provision of re-entry services to Ulster County jail inmates reflective of the services outlined above; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Legislature be advised in writing of any and all RFP’s issued pursuant to securing re-entry services for individuals serving time in the Ulster County Jail,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:     

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE