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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10241995 - D2 TO- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: SHERIFF Costa County DATE: October 5 , 1995 SUBJECT, CONTRACT WITH COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF CONTRA COSTA. COUNTY FOR CHAPLAINCY SERVICES WITHIN THE ADULT DETENTION FACILITIES SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR R.ECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION I . RECOMMENDED ACTION Accept report from Sheriff Rupf on Chaplaincy Services with the Adult Detention Facilities, as requested by Board action on July 25th, 1995 . Approve and authorize the Sheriff,., or designee , to execute, on behalf of the COUNTY, a contract of eight (8) months with Council of Churches of Contra Costa 'County; November 1 , 1995 through June' 30, 1996 . Ii . FINANCIAL IMPACT The cost of this contract will not exceed $206, 132 ($51 , 533 having been approved as part of the existing contract exten- sion) , 'and is funded with the Inmate Welfare Fund. There is no General Fund cost .' III ._* REASONS FOR .RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND, The justification ication and background for this recommended action is' contained in the attached report to the Board. CONTINUED ONATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: -RECOMMENDATION 00 COUNTY AOMINISTRATOR -RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE -APPROVE -OTHER SIGNATURES: ACTION OF BOARD ON -APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER /OTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE VUNANIMOUS(ASSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. :c: County Administrator ATTESTED J 199s- Council of Churches of Contra Costa County PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF County Auditor-Controller SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Sheriff By k$j,"jA QVAA1) _DEPUTY 4382 (10/88) SHERIFF'S OFFICE Contra Costa County Administration Division 646-2402 Date: October 5, 1995 To: Board of Supervisors From: Warren E. Rupf, Sheriff By: Rus Pitkin, U s e ' f Subject: COUNCIL OF HURCHES REPORT On July 25th, the Board approved a four month extension of the existing contract with the Council of Churches for the provision of counseling and chaplaincy services to County inmates at the adult detention facilities through October 31, 1995. In so doing, the Board requested the Sheriff report on the chaplaincy services provided to insure that no religion is favored over any other. The cost of the extension was in the amount of$51,533, paid out of the Inmate Welfare Fund, and at no cost to the General Fund. In responding to the Board's request for a report, the following issues are presented: 1. What expense is this program to the County? It must be emphasized that the pastoral services are not financed by tax revenues. Pastoral services consist of two (2) full time chaplains and two (2) chaplain interns who provide services (including counseling services) to inmates, assist clergy visiting inmates and supervise religious volunteers in the County jails. They are employed by the Contra Costa Council of Churches. The Sheriff has contracted with the Council of Churches for their services via the Inmate Welfare Fund. Penal Code Sections 2600 and 5009, and Title 15, Section 1072 (Minimum Jail Standards) mandate that jail inmates be provided access to religious services. This has been affirmed by the California Supreme Court in a 1986 decision in re. Arias. Board of Supervisors October 5, 1995 Page 2 2. What value is this program to the County, the Department and the inmates?_.. The contract with the Council of Churches provides an enormous benefit to the County, the Department and particularly the approximately 1600 in-custody inmates and their families on a daily basis. The following activity descriptions are some of the Chaplaincy tasks that would have to be covered in a timely manner, even if full-time Chaplains were not on staff. These are presently handled by the Chaplains, interns and volunteers. Chaplain tasks which would have to be taken over by custody or clerical personnel in lieu of Chaplaincy services: A. Material Distribution: Distribution of Bibles (approximately 800 per quarter), Qurans (average 100 per quarter), devotional booklets (average 525 per quarter), and other religious reading material (approximately 200 pieces per quarter) requested by inmates. B. Inmate Marriages 1. Distribution of marriage information packet upon request (60-100 per quarter). 2. Picking up marriage licenses (15-30 per quarter) every Wednesday afternoon at the County Clerk's Office. 3. Visiting incarcerated inmate to have him/her swear to oath on marriage license and obtain his/her signature prior to scheduled marriage date. 4. Schedule marriages and arrange non-contact wedding (clergy not cleared). C: Religious Volunteers 1. Provide applications to potential religious volunteers requesting (average 25 per month). 2. Screen volunteer applications with Detention staff and schedule applicants for volunteer training provided by Friends Outside. 3. Notify newly trained volunteers of clearance. 4. Schedule and track commitment of over 250 volunteers to provide services at Martinez Detention Facility, Marsh Creek Detention Facility and West County Detention Facility. Pull clearances of inactive volunteers. Board of Supervisors October 5, 1995 Page 3 5. Provide monthly religious program schedule to housing unit Deputies and administrative staff. 6. Field daily phone calls from volunteers regarding scheduling changes and assorted problems relative to their performing their volunteer duties. D. Outside Clergy Visitors 1. Field phone calls from area clergy (150-200 per quarter) seeking entry to visit members of their churches or children/relatives of members of their churches. 2. Obtain necessary clearance information from clergy. 3. Facilitate clergy clearance with administration for contact visits. 4. Notify clergy of clearance and inform them of what they can and cannot do; also what can and cannot be brought in with them to their visits. 5. Schedule clergy visits during the incarceration period of their parishioner. 6. Call and clear clergy of inmate's particular denominational choice (i.e., Roman Catholic Priests, Jewish Rabbis, Muslim Imams) for special visits. E. Counseling Services: Between 60 and 70 percent of the Chaplain's (presently two full-time and two interns) time is spent in counseling individual inmates, not necessarily spiritual counseling. With the extreme cuts to the mental health staff over the past several years necessitating their concentrating on intake screening and crisis intervention/suicide prevention counseling, staff Chaplains began covering more of their previous ongoing counseling efforts. Without Chaplains on site, this inmate access to Chaplain services would be severely curtailed. Finding, clearing and scheduling outside clergy for this purpose would be extremely time consuming and most likely non-productive. Parish clergy are very busy already caring for their own church members, and many churches do not want their clergy dedicating time to volunteer efforts on parish time when they are paying their salary. To think such an arrangement would work is to be naive about the work of parish clergy. Board of Supervisors October 5, 1995 Page 4 The activities of the Pastoral Services within the adult detention facilities can best be summarized by the activity reports for the first and second quarters of 1995 (attached). The statistical analysis portions of these reports are fairly clear and indicative of the services provided. 3. What other kind of program could be as beneficial to the inmates? This is difficult to answer. For at least the past fifteen (15) years, this program has been considered highly successful. Inmates have not complained, or sued for not receiving or having access to religious services, or visits by representatives of their choice. The County and the Department have been extremely sensitive to the needs of the diverse nature of the inmate population and communities. This was evidenced by the commitment to the West County community and the selection of Chaplain Harold Wright when the West County Detention Facility first opened. Concern has been expressed in the media about favoritism being shown to particular denominations, namely Protestantism. (Attached is an updated listing of all the County churches from which religious volunteers come.) In addition to these, Roman Catholic Priests, Jewish Rabbis, Muslim Imams and Mormon missionaries are contacted as requested by inmates, cleared and provided clergy visitation rights. No preference nor discrimination is shown to any denomination or person. In addition to providing volunteers and visitors from all denominations with equal clearance, special provisions are also made for special religious holiday observances. Examples are special meal schedule for Muslims during their feast of Ramadan (breakfast before sunrise, no lunch, dinner after sunset), Kosher meals authorized by the Chaplain's Office and provided by Food Service when requested by a Jewish inmate, vegetarian or pork-free diets authorized when an inmate's religion requires such special diets, providing a yarmulke(skullcap worn by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish males) when requested by a Jewish inmate. These and other special religious observances are considered as requested, often in consultation with a leader in the given denomination to determine the absolute need and safety issues relative to the request. Board of Supervisors October 5, 1995 Page 5 4. What does the Sheriffs Office desire in providing chaplaincy services? The Sheriffs Office has been extremely satisfied with the Chaplaincy Program provided through the contracted services of the Council of Churches. The Council of Churches, where once paid for by a combination of General Fund monies and Inmate Welfare Funds, as previously mentioned, is totally supported by inmate generated funds now (since 1992). The Department and leadership of the Council is extremely aware and sensitive to the "perception" by some and have worked diligently to erase that view. The Sheriffs Office is strongly desirous of continuing the contracted relationship with the Council of Churches, and recommends that the Board approve the previously submitted contract. WER:j s Attachments DATE: /75 REQUEST TO .SPEAK FORM (THREE (,2i) MINUTE LIMIT) 6 Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers strum before addressing the Board. NAIME: PHONE: ADDRESS: � �&L 7 � CrIY: e�ae� I am speaking formyself OR organization: Check one: (NA OF ORGANIZNTION) I wish to speak on Agenda Item # b-2-2 . My comments will be: general for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider. Request to Speak Form ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: �i-�7� ��Q'r��s Phone: e 15Z Address: —City: .1 am speaking for myself t or organization: speaw Game of organization) CHECK NE: ✓ I wish to speak on Agenda Item #,2--Z-Date: Ie �� My comments will be: generalfor against 1 wish to speak on the subject of 1 do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: Request to Speak Form 3 . ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: BCI-14 dW C/Ni s Phone: F-3,6- 0 c?4 / Address: �' �, 11"?'1 —city; � 1 am speaking for myself or organization: P14M d isrs of 77+C E-,B4 I (name of organization) CHECK ONE: wish to speak on Agenda Item Date: My comments will be: general ✓for against� Wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the.Board to consider: Request to Speak Form ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: FC- C., 0(J C-L ( � phone:?3c Address: ���� bt),4L iU12`7' City:V��Io%J (WOK 1 amin g formyre If=> or organization- (nam (name of orpnimion) CHECK ONE: 1 wish to speak on Agenda Item g1--s-2 Date: /6 � My comments will be: general _ for against 1 wish to speak on the subject o � 1 do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: Request to Speak Form ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: 131,/1 C d/1"son Phone: 617- GV Address: R 74/ 4-flan-h G S f. City: rn m o rd ' 1 am speaking for myself or organization: lei-ac-t- d- dee d o,n Par y- (name of organization) CHECK ONE: / ✓ I wish to speak on Agenda Item #_P—A— Date:! My comments will be: general for against . Wish to speak on the subject of 1 do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: v� Request to Speak Form ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: hone: Address: City � I am speaking for myself or organization: C (name of organization) CHECK ONE: 1 wish to speak on Agenda Item #L_I,_ Date: A �5 My comments will be: general for against . 1 wish to speak on the subject of 1 do not wish to speak but.leave these comments for the Board to consider: