Department
County Manager
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
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Presentation: Fulton County Superior Court’s Accountability Court (FCAC), State Court’s Recovery Treatment Court (RTC), and Magistrate Court’s Misdemeanor Mental Health Court (MMC) is submitting the following reorganization plan, to begin in April 2025, providing efficient and collaborative service delivery, streamlined administration of similar court treatment programs, and optimization of testing services. (PRESENTED)
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Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
This discussion item is to provide the Board of Commissioners with an update on the progress and process of the reorganization in advance of the April 16 budget sounding to fund transferred positions.
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Justice and Safety
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☒
District 1 ☐
District 2 ☐
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background (First sentence includes Agency recommendation. Provide an executive summary of the action that gives an overview of the relevant details for the item.)
Scope of Work: Superior Court Administration recommends approval of the reorganization plan to consolidate FCAC, RTC, and MMC programs into a single Accountability Court under the management of the Director of FCAC in Superior Court. This action will optimize the alignment and integration of accountability court functions of the Fulton County Courts and align with the County’s overall strategy to consolidate Court services, and promote greater operational efficiency. The proposed changes based on the reorganization plan include: 1) Movement of the services, staff, and resources of RTC from State Court to Superior Court; 2) Movement of the services, staff, and resources of MMC from Magistrate Court to Superior Court; 3) Movement of substance use and mental health treatment services for RTC and MMC from Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to be administered by Superior Court; 4) Creation of treatment positions that will serve to deliver treatment services to RTC and MMC participants; 5) Establishment of a second program pathway in FCAC’s Drug Court to serve moderate-risk/high-need participants who are not currently served in the available programs: and 6) Establishment of a single drug testing model for all accountability court programs.
Community Impact: The goal is to increase public safety and reduce the inflow of individuals into our jail for drug, alcohol, and mental health related crimes. The reorganization will reduce jail time for inmates at Fulton County Jail referred to accountability court by streamlining the intake process and expanding available services. The reorganization will also increase the capacity of accountability court programs.
Department Recommendation: Superior Court Administration recommends the Board of Commissioners approve this reorganization plan that consolidates the FCAC, RTC, and MMC programs into a single Accountability Court under the management of the Director of FCAC in Superior Court.
Project Implications: Justice partners will experience a single streamlined referral process leading to more referrals. Aligned operations and procedures allow for the flexible allocation of pooled staff and resources and helps mitigate against staffing shortages. Combined program size will facilitate vendor volume pricing. Increased efficiency and decreased effort duplication with internal and external partners.
Community Issues/Concerns: None Noted
Department Issues/Concerns: None Noted