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Board concurs with staff response to grand jury report on reentry employment services; highlights coordinated approach
Summary
Marin County staff told the Board they support the grand jury’s focus on employment support for people leaving jail but prefer a multidisciplinary, coordinated model rather than centralizing all services in a single department. The board concurred and adopted the proposed written response to the grand jury report “Uncuffed and Unemployed.”
The Marin County Board of Supervisors on July 8 concurred in a staff response to the Marin County Civil Grand Jury report titled “Uncuffed and Unemployed: There’s Work to Be Done,” which examined employment services for people leaving the county jail and those on probation.
County staff and department leaders briefed the board on services currently available and outlined next steps. Gary Besser of the County Executive’s Office presented the recommended response prepared in collaboration with Health and Human Services (HHS) and Probation. HHS and Probation staff described existing programs: an employment development counselor (EDC) embedded with Probation, the county’s CalFresh Employment & Training program, the jail reentry team, behavioral health and substance‑use services, and existing data and reporting obligations to the state.
Probation and HHS staff emphasized that successful reentry often requires a sequence of interventions: stabilization (housing, mental health and substance use treatment), workforce readiness and then job placement. Probation’s staff noted that many incarcerated individuals are not ready for employment services immediately upon release and that the target group for intensive reentry employment services is primarily those supervised under AB 109 and similar reentry populations. HHS staff said they maintain quarterly and state‑reporting data on participation in employment and training components and indicated capability to share summary reports with Probation and the board.
The grand jury recommended centralizing employment assistance within a single department; county staff instead recommended continuing a multidisciplinary approach while strengthening coordination and data sharing. Staff said the county executive’s new management model — approved in the budget and being implemented — will create a forum for the cross‑departmental coordination the grand jury sought. Staff also noted existing data reporting to state agencies but agreed to provide the board with periodic summaries of local participation and outcomes.
Action: Supervisor Damon Connolly (Lukin in transcript) moved concurrence and adoption of the proposed written response; Supervisor Eric Rodoni seconded. The board recorded the vote as aye by Supervisors Connolly, Rodoni, Colbert, President Sackett and Supervisor Moulton Peters; the motion passed. Following adoption, staff will transmit the formal response to the grand jury and the presiding judge and continue to work on data sharing and improved coordination among Probation, HHS and related partners.
Why it matters: Reentry employment services are central to reducing recidivism. The grand jury’s review highlighted gaps and opportunities; county leaders agreed on the importance of employment assistance but favored a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that aligns behavioral health, housing, training and Probation oversight.
