MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - PINELLAS SAFE HARBORMEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made by and between Jim Coasts as Sheriff of
Pinellas County, Florida (Sheriff) and the City of Clearwater, Florida (City) (collectively referred
to as the parties)
WHEREAS the parties recognize that there is a significant criminal justice system
involved homeless population throughout Pinellas County that is in need of shelter and
transitional services; and
WHEREAS the parties recognize the need for a jail diversion program in Pinellas County
that will be an alternative to incarcerating homeless individuals who commit minor law
violations as a result of their homelessness; and
WHEREAS Pinellas Safe Harbor (PSH) offers a jail diversion opportunity for those in need
of services and who otherwise would be arrested and become involved with the criminal justice
system; and
WHEREAS the parties recognize that the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) and
the Pinellas County Jail (PCJ) release thousands of individuals annually back into our community
and that these persons will benefit from transitional service in order to prevent and/or reduce
recidivism; and
WHEREAS Pinellas Safe Harbor will incur certain operating expenses; and
WHEREAS the criminal justice involved homeless, and released inmates who reoffend
adversely affect and are a financial burden on the parties, our entire Pinellas County
community and the criminal justice system as a whole, and there are mutual public safety and
financial benefits by the City contributing operating funds for PSH; and
WHEREAS Sheriff agrees to use the funds contributed. by City solely to pay for PSH. .
operating expenses;
Now, therefore, for good and valuable consideration the parties agree as follows:
PSH is a jail diversion program which provides temporary housing and transitional
services to criminal justice involved homeless individuals from throughout Pinellas
County, as well as individuals recently released from DOC and PCJ who are attempting
to successfully reenter our community.
PSH has certain recurring operation expenses, including security, food, programmatic
services, and facility costs.
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3. City Agrees to contribute $50,000 toward the operational expenses of PSH during
FY2011. Sheriff will determine to which specific operation expenses the City's funds will
be applied.
4. City will have use of PSH by referring homeless individuals within the city, who would
otherwise draw on the City's law enforcement resources, to PSH. Further, Sheriff's
countywide Prisoner Transport Unit (PTU) will transport homeless individuals from
Clearwater to PSH thereby keeping the City's law enforcement officers available for
other public safety matters.
5. Sheriff agrees to maintain statistical information with performance benchmarks
regarding the operation of PSH and its success at reducing the involvement of homeless
individuals in the criminal justice system, as well as the recidivism of recently released
inmates who participate in PSH programs. Sheriff will make this information available to
City periodically or at anytime upon City's request.
6. City acknowledges that PSH's operating expenses are recurring expenses and agrees to
provide additional funding in successive fiscal years upon a showing satisfactory to the
City that PSH has met performance expectations that benefit the City, Sheriff and the
criminal justice system.
7. In the event no funds or insufficient funds are appropriated and budgeted by City in any
fiscal year to accomplish the goals in this agreement, City shall immediately notify
Sheriff of such occurrence and the MOU shall terminate on the last day of the fiscal
period for which appropriations were received without penalty or expense to Sheriff or
City of any kind whatsoever.
S. This MOU shall become effective upon execution by both parties and shall remain in
effect unless terminated by 30 days written notice from either party or by mutual
consent of the parties. If this MOU is terminated, the City shall be reimbursed a
prorated share of any advanced payment.
9. The parties may amend this MOU at any time during the term of the agreement upon
mutual written consent.
10. The parties agree to provide the services contemplated under this agreement
independently and neither becomes an agent, employee, nor joint venture with the
other as a result of this MOU.
PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CLEARWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT
(1?% ? 6446
1i oats, Sheriff
03 ?" 11
Date
y H611q?way, Chief of Police
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