6.2 ARPA GrantCITY OF SALINA
REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION DATE TIME
5/23/2022 4:00 P.M.
AGENDA SECTION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: FISCAL APPROVAL:
NO: 6
BY:
ITEM City Manager's Office FINAL APPROVAL:
NO: 2\
Page 1 BY: Mike Schrage, City Manager BY:
ITEM: Authorize the Mayor to Sign a Letter of Support for a Saline County ARPA Graibt Funding
Application to Fund Conducting a Survey of the Impact of Fines and Fees on Individual
Offenders Within the 28th District Judicial Court, 28th District Judicial Court Community
Corrections and Salina Municipal Court as Well as to Evaluate the Cost of Collecting Fines and
Fees and Impact on Government Personnel Using the Current Collection Process(es).
BACKGROUND:
Please, see the attached grant prospectus and grant support letter for additional details.
Former City Commissioner and Mayor, Kristin Gunn, recently approached the City Manager on behalf
of the grant writing group about an opportunity for them to apply for ARPA funds to conduct a local
survey regarding the impact of fines and fees on individual offenders in our community. Their request
of the City of Salina is that select staff (likely to be the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Municipal
Judge, Municipal Prosecutor, Municipal Court Supervisor, Continuous Process Improvement Director)
assist in survey preparation and data analysis with the value of their wages & benefits being credited
as an in-kind contribution to the grant application. They have also asked for the City of Salina to be a
signatory on a letter of support to be submitted with the grant application. Annie Grevas, Director of
28th District Judicial Court Community Corrections, will submit the grant. Three community volunteers
(Kristin Gunn, Paula Fried and Lee Romanisczyn) are assisting her in preparing the grant application.
The attached information includes a prospectus of the grant proposal, a letter of support as well as an
example survey that was utilized in another community conducting a similar effort.
FISCAL NOTE:
There is no direct financial cost for the City of Salina associated with this request.
COMMISSION ACTION OR RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff has identified the following options for the City Commission's consideration:
1.) Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support for the ARPA grant application to be submitted
by 28th District Judicial Court Community Corrections requesting grant funding to conduct a
survey of the impacts of fines and fees on individual offenders in the 28th District Judicial Court,
28th District Judicial Court Community Corrections and Salina Municipal Court.
2.) Approve an amended authorization with amendments as the City Commission deems
appropriate.
3.) Postpone consideration of this item to a specified date and time and provide staff direction
regarding additional information or amendments the City Commission would like to request for
their further consideration.
4.) Take no action with the net effect of denying Saline Solution's request for support of the ARPA
grant application.
Staff recommends Option #1.
28"' District Judicial Court Community Corrections
2022 ARPA Grant Proposal
Saline Solution
Focus of Current Saline County ARPA Grant Cycle
Community Public Safety
Community Mental Health
Community Criminal Justice
Grant Amount A total of $250,000 in grants will be awarded to successful applicants for Community
Criminal Justice proposals, with the maximum grant award of $100,000 to any one applicant. A local match is
also recommended. While the proposed grant primarily focuses on the Criminal Justice System, many of the
tasks will also contribute to improved Public Safety and Mental Health in Saline County.
ARPA Grant Schedule
June 6, 2022 4:30 P.M. Grant Application Due
June 21, 2022 Successful Grant Recipients Notified
August 16, 2022 Grant Agreement Signed
August 15, 2024 Last day to spend awarded grant funds
Applicant: 281" District Judicial Court Community Corrections
Partners: 281h District Judicial Court
Salina Municipal Court
city of
SALINES;,
COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1860
Focus: Impact of Fines and Fees on Individual Offenders
Evaluation of the Current Process for and Cost of Assigning and Collecting Fines and Fees
Fines and fees in the criminal justice system have had a devastating effect on the lives of millions of people
around the country, keeping many stuck in a cycle of poverty and punishment. For over two years a group of
concerned citizens has been exploring this issue through research, reading and conversations with numerous
local professionals who work with individuals participating in the criminal justice system. Grant funds will be
used to conduct a thorough assessment of the impact of fines and fees in Saline County. The assessment will
include developing a survey, data collection from 1000 individuals, data analysis, and depending upon the
analysis, implementation of a pilot program that offers alternative pathways for meeting fines and fees
obligations.
In addition, personnel from the 28"' District Judicial Court, 281' District Judicial Court Community Corrections
and Salina Municipal Court will assist with an assessment of the cost, efficiency and effectiveness of current
fines and fees processes.
ARPA Grant Budget
Expenses: $38,000
20,000
$58,000
Local Match: $58,000
KSU, Lisa A. Melander, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology
assist with survey development and analysis
Gift cards to survey participants
The local match will be in kind and will include activities provided by local professional staff and community
volunteers. Specific tasks will include providing input to the survey document, selecting individuals to complete
the survey, monitoring the survey process, compiling information on the current cost of collecting fines and
fees, data analysis, and developing and implementing a pilot program. If an ARPA grant is awarded, during
June and July 2022 partner agencies will identify the local government personnel who will participate in the
grant project. Using current staff demonstrates that any recommended process changes are sustainable.
ARPA Grant Schedule:
August 17, 2022 — November 30, 2022
— Develop and Print Survey Document
December 1, 2022 — February 28, 2023
Conduct Survey of 1000 Residents
Begin Assessment of Current Process
and Associated Costs of Collecting Fines and
Fees
March 1, 2023 — May 31, 2023
— Analyze Data
— Continue Assessment of Current Process and
Associated Costs
June 1, 2023 — September 30, 2023
—a Develop Pilot Program that Offers Alternative
Pathways for Meeting Fines and Fees
Obligations
October 1, 2023 — May 31, 2024
Implement Pilot Program
June 1, 2024 — August 15, 2024
Evaluate Results of the Pilot Program
Recommend Policy and Program Alternatives
• 28" JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Community
Corrections
May 16, 2022
To Whom It May Concern:
309 S. Broadway • Salina, KS 67401 • (785) 826 — 6590
This letter is in support of the 28th Judicial District Community Corrections proposal and request
for grant funding under the ARPA Safer and Healthier Saline County Grant Program. The
application qualifies in the three categories: Community Public Health, Mental Health, and
Criminal Justice.
Fines and fees in the criminal justice system have had a devastating effect on the lives of million
of people around the country and Saline County is no different. The prohibitive costs keep man),
persons and families stuck in a cycle of poverty and punishment, many times making decisions b
pay the court instead of individual and family necessities.
To avoid arrest or additional time off work to attend court hearings, impacted persons will make
critical life decisions to pay the court instead of paying for a mental health or substance addictio
treatment, medication, food, transportation/housing and more. As a result of these increasing
charges, impacted persons and their families remain locked in the criminal justice system often
making poor choices to avoid a missed payment. Failure to address the fines and fees costs can
result in an arrest and lock down in jail, additional court appearances and loss days of
employment or family time, and increased costs.
The project of assessment of the impact of fines and fees, surveying impacted persons and
families, and collecting and analyzing data. It may include a pilot program to offer alternative
pathways for meeting fines and fees obligations. The project and application support the target
populations our organizations serve. We know firsthand that these issues can be devastating.
Please support Community Corrections grant request for funding under the ARPA Safer and
Healthier Saline County Grant Program, impacting lives for the better.
Thank you,
Shane Hudson, Director Central Kansas Foundation
Kevin Emerson, 281h Judicial Court Chief CSO
Glenna Phillips, Director Central Kansas Mental Health Center
Michelle Callam, Community Corrections
Criminal Justice Debt Survey
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
1. Age:
2. Gender:
o Male
o Female
o Non -binary
3. Number of Dependant Children:
4. Race:
o
Caucasian
o
African American
o
Latino/Hispanic
o
Asian/Pacific Islander
o
Native American
o
Alaskan Native
o
Black/West Indian
o
Bi -racial
o
Other
S. What is the highest level of education you have completed?
o
Some high school
o
High School Diploma/GED
o
Some college
0
2 -year college degree
0
4 -year college degree
o
Other (specify):
1
6. In the past 30 days, where have you lived most of the time?
o Apartment/House (Own or Rent)
o Institution (Hospital, Nursing Home, Jail/Prison)
o Residential Treatment Center
o Halfway House
o Shelter/Homeless
o Staying with a friend or family member
7. What Is your zip code?
8. Are you currently employed?
o Yes
o No (skip to question 15)
9. Do you work full-time or part-time?
o Full-time
o Part-time
10. Do you receive a paycheck?
o Yes
o No (skip to question 14)
11. How often do you get paid?
o Weekly
o Bi -weekly
o Monthly
o By the job
o Other (specify):
12. How many months have you been employed in your current job?
2
13. What other sources of income do you have?
o Disability
o SSI
o Food Stamps
o Other (specify):
o None
14. Do you currently have a driver's license?
o Yes
o No
15. If not, why not?
o Police took it
o Court took it
o Cannot afford reinstatement fee
o Cannot afford insurance
o Never had one
16. What is your primary mode of transportation?
o Car
o Public Transportation
o Friend/Family Member
o Other
17. Do you have auto insurance?
o Yes
o No
18. Do you have a bank account at this time?
o Yes
o No
3
19. If you had to get money to stay out of jail, how much cash would you have access to
today?
20. Are you registered to vote?
o Yes
o No
21. If not, why not?
o Previous criminal conviction
o Outstanding fines or fees
o Never registered
o Unsure
o Choose not to vote
Other (specify):
CRIMINAL LEGAL EXPERIENCE
22. Have you ever been charged with any of the following? select all that apply
o Traffic violation (speeding, dui, driving without a license)
o Petty Misdemeanor (non -Traffic)
o Misdemeanor (non -traffic)
o Felony
23. Are you currently under supervision for a felony or a misdemeanor?
o Yes
o No
24. Have you ever been under supervision for a felony or misdemeanor?
o Yes
o No
4
29. Have you ever been declared indigent by the court, appointed a lawyer, or represented
by a public defender?
a Yes
o No
30. Have you ever been denied housing due to a criminal record?
o Yes
o No
31. Have you ever been denied employment due to a criminal record?
o Yes
a No
CRIMINAL LEGAL DEBT
32. What types of fees or payments have you made? (Check all that apply).
o Court-ordered fines and fees
o Drug Court costs
o Counsel costs (Public Defender)
o Probation or pretrial supervision costs
o Court costs/fines and restitution (Tribal)
33. Approximately, how much have you paid toward court-ordered fines and fees?
34. How much do you currently owe for court-ordered fines and fees?
35. If you don't know or are unsure of how much you owe, what would be your best guess?
o Less than $500
o $500-$999
o $1,000-$4,999
o $5,000-$9,999
11
o $10,000-$19,999
o $20,000-$29,999
o $30,000-$39,999
o $40,000-$49,999
o More than $50,000
36. Have you had to make payments for more than one court-ordered fines and/or fees at
a time?
o Yes
o No
37. How long were you in a situation where you owed court costs, fines, and/or fees?
38. If you are unsure of how long, can you give us your best guess?
o Less than a year
0 1 to 5 years
0 6 to 10 years
o More than 10 years
o More than 20 years
o I still owe money
39. Do you feel you will be able to pay what you owe?
o Yes
40. Have you ever had to choose between paying for necessities such as food, utilities,
rent, and court costs, fines, and/or fees?
o Yes
o No
VA
46. Have you ever had to commit a crime to get money to pay court-ordered fines and fees
o Yes
o No
47. IF YES, what did you have to do? (check all that apply)
o Sell Drugs
o Steal
o Engage in Sex Work
o Drive on a suspended license
o Other (specify):
INABILITY TO MAKE PAYMENTS
48. Have you ever been threatened with jail because you couldn't pay court-ordered fines
and fees?
o Yes
o No
49. Have you ever been jailed for failure to pay court-ordered fines and fees?
o Yes
o No
50. Have you ever had the amount you owe increased due to failure to pay court-ordered
fines and fees?
o Yes
K.
51. Have you ever had the amount you owe decreased due to failure to pay court-ordered
fines and fees ?
o Yes
o No
9
52. Has your driver's license ever been suspended for failure to pay court-ordered fines
and fees ?
o Yes
2.
o Never had a license
53. Have you ever had money taken out of your income tax return to pay for any court
costs, fines, and/or fees?
o Yes
o Unsure
PAYING SOMEONE ELSE'S COURT COSTS FINES AND/OR FEES
54. Who have you made payments for? (Check all that apply)
o Family member
o Friend
o Other (please specify):
55. Have you helped make payments for this person over a period of time?
o Yes
o No
56. What is the total amount of money you have given to someone else for court costs,
fines, and/or fees?
57. Have you ever borrowed money from a family member or friend to pay for SOMEONE
ELSE'S court costs, fines, and/or fees?
o Yes
10