HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-19; Mobile Homeless Court and Resource Fair (District 1); Barberio, GaryTo the members of the:
Cl1Y COUNCIL
Date '5Ji0 Jaa CA ..L-CC V
CM ,:L_ ACM _:L DCM (3) ~
May 19, 2022
To:
From:
Via:
Re:
Council Memorandum
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Mandy Mills, Director of Housing and Homeless Services
Chris Shilling, Senior Homeless Program Manager
Jessica Klein, Homeless Program Manag~
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~J'
Mobile Homeless Court and Resource Fair (District 1)
{cityof
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2022061
This memorandum provides information related to a Mobile Home.less Court and Resource Fair
-in Carlsbad hosted by the County of San Diego and District Attorney's Office.
Background
The County of San Diego and District Attorney's Office contact~d 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 have previously held a mobile version of Homeless Court in the South Bay and
East County. Both events went well with no reported issues. The City of Carlsbad has agreed to
provide space and will have staff and law enforcement on site. The following legal services and
support services will be available:
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)
May 19, 2022
Page 2
• 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 June 17 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. 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
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Mickey Williams, Chief of Police
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director