To the members of the:
CllY COUNCIL
Date~CA v CC ✓
CM ✓ACM _0)CM (3)~
July 18, 2024
Council Memorandum
{cityof
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2024052
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Mandy Mills, Director of Housing and Homeless Services
Via:
Re:
Chris Shilling, Homeless Services Manager
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
Mobile Homeless Court and Resource ~r (District 1)
This memorandum provides information related to a Mobile Homeless Court and Resource Fair in Carlsbad hosted by the County of San Diego and District Attorney's Office to be held on July 26, 2024, from 8 a.m. -1 p.m. in a portion of the parking lot at the Library Learning Center, located at 3368 Eureka Place.
Background
The County of San Diego and District Attorney's Office contacted city staff about using a city location to host a half-day Mobile Homeless Court and Resource Fair in Carlsbad. In the usual courthouse setting, Homeless Court provides an avenue for alternative disposition and potential dismissal of lower level criminal offenses for persons who are experiencing homelessness. The Mobile Homeless Court and Resource Fair is designed to increase accessibility for homeless persons.
Homeless persons who want to participate in Homeless Court must sign up through a local social service agency or contact the District Attorney's Office directly. Homeless individuals then work with a Defense Attorney and participate in approved program activities, such as life- skills, chemical dependency or AA/NA meetings, computer and literacy classes, training or searching for employment, medical care (physical and mental), and/or counseling. Successful participation in these program activities can result in "credit for time served," the dismissal of criminal charges, and/or the reduction or elimination of court-ordered fines and fees. These alternative dispositions replace traditional court sentences of fines, public work service, and custody. The alternative sentencing structure is not coercive or punitive in nature, but rather designed to address the underlying causes of a person's homelessness and recognize the person's efforts to make changes to improve his or her life.
Discussion
The Homeless Mobile Court and Resource Fair will be organized and hosted by the County of San Diego. They previously held a mobile version of Homeless Court in Carlsbad in June 2022.
This event went well with no reported issues. The City of Carlsbad has agreed to provide space Community Services Branch
Housing & Homeless Services Department
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2810 t
Council Memo -Mobile Homeless Court and Resource Fair (District 1) July 18, 2024
and will have staff on site and law enforcement in the area. The following legal services and support services will be available:
• Homeless Court Program (one or more Deputy District Attorney(s), Deputy Public Defender(s), the City Prosecutor, and an on-call judge via remote connection) • DMV Services
• Child Support Services
• Benefit Programs (healthcare, disability, food, etc.) • Detox/Substance Abuse Treatment
• Library High School Diploma and Career Certificate Programs Next Steps
The Mobile Homeless Court and Resource Fair will be held on July 26, 2024, from 8 a.m. -1 p.m. in a portion of the parking lot at the Library Learning Center, located at 3368 Eureka Place.
Staff from the City Attorney's Office, Police, Housing & Homeless Services, and Library & Cultural Arts will participate to help make this a successful event. cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Christie Calderwood, Police Chief
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Zach Korach, Finance Director
Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director