Title
City Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence Diversion, Positive Alternatives Program, and Cognitive Skills Program Diversion - RFP - LAW-23-0081-1 (Ordinance S-49882)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter a contract with SAGE Counseling, Inc., to operate and administer the City's Domestic Violence Diversion (DVD), Positive Alternatives Program (PAP), and Cognitive Skills Program (CSP) diversion programs. These programs do not require funding.
Report
Summary
The Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence Diversion (DVD), Positive Alternatives Program (PAP), and Cognitive Skills Program (CSP) are rehabilitative diversion programs serving to redirect the behavior of offenders. DVD provides a counseling and education program for domestic violence offenders to stop the cycle of violence. PAP provides anger management counseling to provide offenders in non-domestic violence cases with the tools to avoid future assaultive and threatening behavior. Finally, CSP offers cognitive behavioral therapy and opportunities to explore thinking patterns that are intended to help offenders make better decisions. Both the offender and the community benefit when the offender is rehabilitated.
The programs seek to educate offenders about the origin of their criminal behavior and to deter offenders from criminal behavior after the completion of the program. Once proceeding into the criminal justice system the offenders are considered defendants. A defendant who is eligible for a program must accept and enter the City Prosecutor's Office post-plea diversion plea agreement. The defendant is responsible for the costs of the program, though a reduced fee schedule is available for indigent defendants. If a defendant completes the program and meets all conditions, the City Prosecutor's Office may file a motion to dismiss the eligible charge(s) without prejudice. The contracted agency remits $30 to the City of Phoenix for each defendant who pays a full program fee and successfully completes the program. These monies are utilized for diversion program evaluations and technology enhancements in the City Prosecutor's Office.
In March 2023, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to seek offers from outside organizations to operate the City Prosecutor's Office DVD/PAP/CSP diversion programs. SAGE Counseling, Inc., was the sole organization to respond to the RFP. SAGE’s proposal was reviewed by an evaluation committee. The evaluation panel consisted of members from the City Prosecutor's Office.
The committee determined that SAGE’s proposal satisfies all the RFP requirements. Furthermore, as the incumbent provider, SAGE is already known to be highly qualified to continue to provide these program services.
Contract Term
Three years beginning on July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, with two one-year renewal options.
Financial Impact
The programs are fee-based and will not require City funds.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by City Manager Jeffrey Barton and the Law Department.