Posting Language
Title
Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Municipal Court Operating Budget Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to accept and appropriate $900,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance National Community Courts Initiative for Downtown Austin Community Court Mobile Court enhancements, including substance use related services. Funding: A City match of $75,000 is required and is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Downtown Austin Community Court Operating Budget.
De
Lead Department
Community Court
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $900,000 is available from the U.S. Department of Justice Office Bureau of Justice Assistance FY24 National Community Courts Initiative. A City match of $75,000 is required and is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Downtown Austin Community Court Operating Budget. A fiscal note is attached.
For More Information:
Robert Kingham, Court Administrator, Downtown Austin Community Court (512) 974-1394; Chris Anderson, Court Operations Manager, Downtown Austin Community Court (512) 974-4878.
Additional Backup Information:
This action will accept $900,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance FY24 National Community Courts Initiative and amend the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Austin Municipal Court Operating Budget Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to appropriate $900,000 for Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) Mobile Court enhancements, including substance use related services, for the grant period of October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2028.
The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance FY24 National Community Courts Initiative is intended to enhance community courts, with one goal to establish or enhance court-based intervention programs that prioritize and expedite the provision of treatment and recovery services to individuals who are frequent users of justice, health, and other services and who commit misdemeanor offenses.
DACC will use grant funds to enhance the Mobile Court program, which addresses barriers to accessing justice and case management services and diverts and deflects individuals in Austin with substance use and mental health disorders who are experiencing homelessness. This program enhancement will address existing inequities and engage individuals experiencing homelessness who are disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization by replicating and implementing best practices and evidence-based tools in the field and create referral pathways and enhance access to substance use services for Mobile Court participants.
City Council allocated resources to fully implement DACC’s Mobile Court program and expand Homeless Services resources in the budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Due to these investments, DACC is able to meet the matching requirements for this grant through in-kind contributions of staff time. These grant funds will complement and enhance Mobile Court implementation efforts by providing resources for a robust planning process and strengthen services by expanding partnerships and resources for substance use services for Mobile Court participants. The planning phase during the initial period of the grant will help determine how to most effectively use resources to meet grant objectives and best serve program participants and set Mobile Court up for success long-term by bolstering resources to allow for deeper exploration of Mobile Court location options and strengthen connections to substance use resources.
The General Fund will not be required to contribute additional funds beyond those currently budgeted to this grant. When the grant funds expire, the department’s need for continuing funding will be evaluated and may be denied.