Explanation
The Franklin County Municipal Court currently operates one Specialty Docket to process cases specifically for defendants who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. The mission of this Specialty Docket, or the Mental Health Program Docket, is to provide a collaborative delivery program that focuses on providing comprehensive services to address all aspects of the lives of those defendants who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and who qualify for the program. Following the Mental Health Program Docket court model, it is estimated that the City of Columbus can realize a substantial savings by expanding the Specialty Docket.
This expansion of the Specialty Docket will consist of two programs, the Solicitation Program and the Addiction Program. The Solicitation Program Specialty Docket, Changing Actions To Change Habits (CATCH Program), is intended to provide a mechanism to promote effective treatment as an alternative to incarceration for a person whose multiple solicitation arrests, summons and charges have negatively impacted the person's quality of life and community safety. Many of these individuals have a history of multiple arrests, criminal behavior, drug addiction, poverty and being victimized as a result of soliciting. The CATCH Program requires limited court involvement in treatment planning and compliance, which should result in more effective utilization of other court and county resources.
The Addiction Program Specialty Docket(APSD) is intended to provide a mechanism to promote effective treatment as an alternative to incarceration for a person whose arrests, summons and charges are associated with alcohol and/or chemical dependence (AOD), which negatively impact the person's quality of life and community safety. Many of these individuals have a history of multiple arrests, typically OMVI, criminal behavior, drug addiction, poverty and transient housing. The APSD requires limited court involvement in treatment planning and compliance, which should result in more effective utilization of other county and court resources.
This ordinance transfers $100,000 from the Indigent Drivers Alcohol Treatment Fund to the new subfund as established in ordinance 0934-2009.
EMERGENCY: Emergency action is requested to allow the start up of the program
FISCAL IMPACT:
Transfer funds from the Indigent Drivers Alcohol Treatment Fund for purpose of funding the Municipal Court's Specialty Docket Program.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to appropriate and transfer $100,000 from the Indigent Drivers Alcohol Treatment Fund to the Municipal Court Special Programs Specialty Docket; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000)
Body
Whereas, The Franklin County Municipal Court currently operates one Specialty Docket to process cases specifically for defendants who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, and
Whereas, Following the Mental Health Program Docket court model, it is estimated that the City of Columbus realize a substantial cost savings by establishing an Addiction Program and Solicitation Program; and
Whereas, $100,000 from the Indigent Drivers Alcohol Treatment Fund to be allocated to the Municipal Court Judges in order to fund the Specialty Court Docket Expansion; and
Whereas, it is the intention to continue to support the expansion of the Specialty Docket Program;
Whereas, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges in that it is immediately necessary to provide additional funding for the Specialty Docket in order to expand the Addiction and Solicitation Programs for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety and welfare; now therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor be authorized to appropriate and transfer $100,000 as follows:
From:
Fund 225 Subfund 001 Indigent Drivers Alcohol Treatment Fund, OCA 250266, OL3 5000
To:
Fund 226 Subfund 004 Municipal Court Special Programs, Specialty Docket, OCA 226004, OL3 1000.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that these transactions are properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the city's financial records
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.