San Diego city Atty. explains the new SMART program for chronic low-level offenders and how Chula Vista managed to get overwhelming support for a sales tax hike. This is KPBS midday edition. I Maureen Cavanaugh it's Tuesday I Maureen Cavanaugh it's Tuesday, December 6. Our top story on midday edition after months of preparation this week that city of San Diego announced a new treatment program for nonviolent criminals with drug problems. The San Diego misdemeanor at risk track or SMART program focuses on low-level offenders who are in and out of the criminal justice system. It offers up to two years of housing and drug treatment and no jail time. Joining me is Jan Goldsmith who is one of the crafters of the SMART program. Jan Goldsmith, welcome to the program. Thank you. Is a program like this needed in San Diego. Is an outgrowth of the community program which is now known as North Justice initiative. It's addressing low-level misdemeanor offenders who don't get a lot of attention through the judicial system in the -- for example probation officers don't monitor probation. It tends to grow into more serious offenders. The community course has had 1500 person -- participants and 25,000 community service hours. This is part two. We are now expanding the program through SMART. We're putting them into the chronic offenders. These are people who come back and back through the judicial system. You'll see many of them sleeping on the street and many of them have drug, alcohol and mental health problems. It is hard to find programs to help them help themselves and hold them accountable. If a chronic offender chooses to go into this program, what kind of treatment will they be getting? They will get treatment that is individualized which is something that is rare for low-level offenders which means they will have a caseworker, be screened and depends on their needs whether they have alcohol, drug or mental health problems. They will be given -- this is different from anything we have because this is in the criminal justice system. If they don't go in they face the other consequences and that's jail. Here we want to get them into a bed and our commitment is up to two years. This is not just overnight. This is up to two years. Their commitment is to participate in the treatment. We will provide the treatment through the county and private sector. We have arranged for that. They will get up to two years of treatment and progress to help them get on their feet. They have to make the commitment to and participate and they cannot brush Asaph. This is not just a bed. Its consequences and there are conditions. What do you foresee happening after the two years of treatment. They slowly within the two years -- it's not just to use static treatment -- they build more confidence and then are being consulted and getting treatment to get them to a job. To help them have their own place. I've seen programs that work like this in the private sector. Very limited but they would start off in a hotel room -- motel room and by the time they are finished with the program they are paying their own brand and have job-training and they are out in the real world. It is challenging. It sounds easy but I will tell you more fail then got through. I saw that from the perspective of the bench. We are prosecutors. We are partnering with public defenders pick. The ACLU, Sheriff, Police Department, courts are part of this and are very supportive and have an important role. Plus second chance which will be working with us on the housing. The mayor has been supportive through initial funding. Was the money for the SMART program coming from? The initial funding is coming from each of the agency. For example the county is helping out. We are doing our part. Second chance as a contract. There's $100,000 that was found by the mayor's office to help us get started. The money is coming from our own overhead and we will show that this can work. Jensen Goldsmith as you mentioned the SMART program is part of a bigger community Justice initiative that you launch two years ago. How are you hoping these programs change criminal justice in San Diego after the years you leave office. We do have to change the way we approach these type of crimes. Unfortunately Chris -- criminal justice system be escalated to felonies and that's when the cold criminal justice system kicks in. The idea is to focus on the early offenders and to let them get to the felony stage. It has to be a carrot stick. It can't be pure character. Here's about have fun and enjoy your life. They have to change behavior and help them help themselves. There has to be conditions attached and behind those are the criminal justice system. I believe this is a different type of thinking. I think that we will show it is successful. I have seen it in bits and pieces as a judge being successful. I've seen the magnitude of the problem and it does not do any good for the people living on the streets -- they should not be there and they should have a real-life. Open city -- speaking with San Diego city Atty. Jan Goldsmith.
The San Diego Misdemeanants At-Risk Track — or SMART — has been under development for several months and includes partnerships with the San Diego Housing Commission, police and sheriff's departments, Family Health Centers of San Diego and the American Civil Liberties Union, among others.
The program targets offenders who are heavy users of public resources and are resistant to receiving help that would turn their lives around.
"Some are addicted to drugs and alcohol, some have problems with mental illness, some are homeless — they need our help," Faulconer said at a news conference. "Because each individual can have a different story, we need to tailor treatment to help each particular person."
City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said the criminal justice system isn't equipped to deal with such people, who continue with their offenses because they don't face consequences for their actions.
"SMART offers a different approach, an offer of meaningful help — not just one night in a bed, but up to two years as long as they are the needed treatment," Goldsmith said. "Our part is to provide the consistency of a bed. (The offenders) part is to provide participation and treatment, and that is meaningful."
City officials said the population of chronic low-level criminals has risen in San Diego since state Proposition 47 passed, which reduced penalties for certain crimes.
The program, which will start in the San Diego Police Department's Central Division in the downtown area, will focus on people with acute drug addictions and social service needs.
Police, prosecutors and social service representatives will offer the SMART program participation during routine contacts, arrests, arraignment, sentencing and while suspects are in custody.
Incoming City Attorney Mara Elliott said she fully supports the program and will seek additional state funding to expand it while she's in office.
