Board directs development of one‑time pretrial services expansion plan with court partnership

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 17 directed public‑safety partners to develop a funding and implementation plan for a one‑time expansion of pretrial services in partnership with the superior court.

The board letter—co‑sponsored by Supervisors Marquez and Carson—asks county public safety departments and behavioral health to work with the court to develop a proposal for one‑time funding for expanded pretrial positions and community‑based service connections, with evaluation support from Harvard’s Government Performance Lab. The proposal seeks to scale a model the court said will focus on supportive services and community referrals rather than intensive probation monitoring.

Court representatives described a pilot with probation that showed supervision‑heavy approaches are expensive and often over‑monitor lower‑risk pretrial populations. They proposed a model emphasizing expedited releases, increased referrals to services, and performance evaluation. The board directed the public safety partners to return with a plan outlining funding needs and implementation, including evaluation metrics and a strategy for sustainable funding if the pilot proves effective.

Supervisors stressed the direction requests development of a plan rather than immediate ongoing appropriations. Several supervisors noted concerns about funding sources and whether AB 109 funds or other state resources would be used, and asked that the proposal be vetted through the Community Corrections Partnership and appropriate county budget processes.