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Residents and service providers urge supervisors not to cut reentry programs as consent calendar is approved
Summary
Dozens of people with lived experience and reentry service providers urged the Santa Clara County Public Safety and Justice Committee not to reduce funding for reentry programs; the committee approved the consent calendar, including adding two reports, and staff reiterated the county budget process continues ahead of the May 1 CEO proposal.
Dozens of current and former justice‑involved residents and leaders of reentry programs told the Public Safety and Justice Committee that proposed budget reductions would undermine services that they said reduce recidivism and help people rebuild their lives.
Speakers including Crystal Perez, a reentry program participant, described programs that provide housing support, employment help and peer mentorship and asked supervisors not to cut funding that they said transforms lives. ‘‘Funding was meant to invest in community‑based services that reduce recidivism,’’ Crystal Perez said, urging the board to preserve services that ‘‘help people heal, grow and give back.’’
Other speakers — many of them formerly incarcerated — gave personal testimonials about Mission Possible, Breakout Prison Outreach and Never Give Up, describing job placements, ID and license restoration, case management and housing navigation. A Breakout Prison Outreach executive described recent program statistics and argued that cutting services would increase returns to custody.
One Zoom speaker raised allegations involving the District Attorney’s office; county staff responded that California law limits what the county can say about specific active investigations and noted that child welfare agencies and the District Attorney are required to cross‑report allegations of child abuse.
The chair moved to approve the consent calendar with the addition of the semi‑annual sheriff/custody health grievances report (Item 5) and the probation custodial grievances report (Item 8); a second was recorded, public comment on consent was taken, and the roll call vote carried. County staff and supervisors emphasized that the budget proposals discussed at the meeting were preliminary and that the County Executive will publish a formal proposed budget on May 1.
Why it matters: Public commenters and providers told supervisors that reductions to reentry and community‑based services would harm residents who rely on wraparound supports and could increase system costs down the line. Supervisors said they want more transparency about specific proposed contract reductions so community partners can plan and respond.
The committee approved the consent calendar and moved on to scheduled agenda items; supervisors asked staff to provide off‑agenda detail about proposed Object 2 contract reductions before May 1 so the board and community organizations can review impacts.
