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STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT For the Downtown Austin Community Court Geographic Service Area and Adjudicated Cases Analysis SEPTEMBER 2022 1 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Report Introduction……….………………………………………………..………………………………………………Page 03 Section 1: Executive Summary………………………………………………..……………………………………….Page 04 Section 2: Geographic Service Area Analysis Project Overview………………………..………………Page 06 Section 3: Stakeholder Engagement Summary and Participant Snapshot……………..…………Page 07 Section 4: Emergent Themes and Data Analysis…………………………………………………..………….Page 10 Section 5: Summary and Next Steps…………………………………………………………………….………….Page 21 Appendix A: Stakeholder Engagement Approach and Methodology Detail……………..………Page 23 Appendix B: GSA Data Analysis Needs……………..………………………………………………….………….Page 27 Appendix C: Current DACC Geographic Service Area Map…………………..………..…….………….Page 29 Appendix D: List of Class C Misdemeanors……………………………………………..….……….………….Page 30 2 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT REPORT INTRODUCTION What is included in this document? This document is a comprehensive exhibit of the results from the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) stakeholder engagement process for its geographic service area (GSA) and adjudicated cases analysis project. This report includes an Executive Summary that begins on the next page. The Executive Summary is a brief overview of the general project, the engagement process and the resulting key takeaways. All of the information in the Executive Summary is included in subsequent sections of the document with greater detail and context. Following the Executive Summary is a detailed description of the GSA analysis project in Section 2: Geographic Service Area Analysis Project Overview. This section including DACC’s history and the purpose of the GSA analysis. A summary of the stakeholder engagement process, and a brief look at the participants, are included in Section 3: Stakeholder Engagement Summary and Participant Snapshot. Additional detail about the stakeholder engagement process is included in Appendix A. Section 4: Emergent Themes and Data Analysis is the longest section of this report, and includes synthesized data from the stakeholder engagement process. Eight themes are outlined in this section, which serve to inform the next steps of the GSA analysis project. The report concludes with Section 5: Summary and Next Steps. Included in the appendices are additional context and detail about the engagement processes, data analysis needs for the forthcoming project phase, a map of DACC’s current GSA, and a list of all Class C misdemeanors processed at DACC. 3 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Section 1: GSA Stakeholder Engagement Data Synthesis Executive Summary DACC Background and Project Summary For more than 20 years, the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) has provided justice diversion and homelessness services for the downtown, UT’s west campus and parts of east Austin. Cases that are processed at DACC are Class C misdemeanors that are issued within DACC’s current three-neighborhood Geographic Service Area (GSA). A map of the current GSA and a list of the Class C misdemeanors adjudicated at DACC are included as Appendix C and Appendix D at the end of this document. Upon passage of Proposition B and the Statewide camping ban, cases issued citywide related to these regulations have been processed at DACC to help connect individuals to services. In Spring 2022, DACC leadership initiated an analysis of this three-neighborhood GSA. The study, which also includes analysis of DACC’s current adjudicated Class C misdemeanor cases, will determine the inherent value of the Court’s current operations, and determine whether recommendations for change should be made. The research questions guiding this effort include: How effective is DACC’s current GSA and adjudicated cases policy? And: Are there changes that should be considered, or potential reimagined operations structures that DACC management should explore? Stakeholder Engagement Efforts In summer 2022, DACC hosted a variety of stakeholder engagement opportunities to inform the project’s scope, identify community needs/concerns, and gather input regarding potential policy changes impacting DACC’s operations. The stakeholder engagement period also served as an opportunity for the Court to educate stakeholders about its current scope, mission, and activities. External stakeholders included people experiencing homelessness, former DACC defendants, members of the business and nonprofit communities, and other members of the public. Internal stakeholders were City staff members who engage or collaborate with DACC and/or the GSA as part of their work. Stakeholders participated in virtual meetings, surveys, and in-person, open-house style engagement opportunities. A total of 747 individual data points were recorded through the various engagement methods. The data points, called “references” throughout this report, were coded and analyzed, and eight themes emerged from the data:  Theme 1: Access to Resources  Theme 2: DACC’s Role in the Community  Theme 3: Equity, Fairness and Inclusivity  Theme 4: Information, Education, and Understanding  Theme 5: Resource Availability  Theme 6: Responses to Potential DACC Changes  Theme 7: System and Processes  Theme 8: Other/General Comments 4 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Theme Detail and Key Takeaways Summary Theme detail, which includes insights and direct quotes from stakeholders, is provided in the full report. Through these themes, several major takeaways were identified, which aim to guide the next steps of the project analysis. Included here is a list of the major takeaways from the stakeholder engagement process. Note that the stakeholder engagement data came from a combination of conversations and survey responses. To enhance inclusivity, no questions or topics were required for participation. The information below is reflective of survey and meeting participants who chose to engage on that particular topic, not necessarily every single participant. The associated themes for each Key Takeaway are noted in each bullet point.  Expanding DACC’s GSA to other parts of Austin is supported by 93 percent of participants that chose to express their preference. (Themes: Responses to Potential DACC Changes, DACC’s Role in the Community, Access to Resources; Equity, Fairness, and Inclusivity)  DACC maintaining case types for housed people (instead of exclusively serving people experiencing homelessness) is supported by 69 percent of participants that chose to express their preference. (Themes: Responses to Potential DACC Changes, System and Processes)  Stakeholders were supportive of DACC’s expansion in GSA and social service provision, with several stakeholders expressing that caveat that they would support expansion only if it was supported with adequate available resources. More than 40 individual stakeholder references to geographic or service expansion directly emphasized the resources needed to maintain quality service levels. (Themes: Responses to Potential DACC Changes, Resource Availability)  Stakeholders frequently discussed ways to strengthen opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness to connect to social service, with more than two dozen stakeholder references specifically indicating a desire for court and citation processes to include enhanced resource connectivity. Many other references related to a general need for resource connectivity for people involved in the court system or people experiencing homelessness. Stakeholders cited both the ticketing process and the Court appearance as opportunities for APD and DACC staff to create and enhance those opportunities. (Themes: Access to Resources, DACC’s Role in the Community, System and Processes)  Stakeholders expressed desire for elements such as access and equity to be prioritized in  upcoming decision-making or recommendations regarding DACC’s GSA and adjudicated cases, with particular attention to the current exclusion of DACC’s benefits for people outside of the current GSA boundaries. Access to resources was referenced 152 times by stakeholders, and equity was referenced 72 times. (Themes: Access to Resources; Equity, Fairness, and Inclusivity) In discussions/questions about citations, responses did not strongly align with any particular viewpoints. Some respondents said they want to see more enforcement for Class C misdemeanors; others prefer a more lenient approach. Multiple stakeholder comments indicated a need for more information/understanding before forming an opinion. (Themes: Responses to Potential DACC Changes, System and Processes, Access to Resources) 5 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT  Stakeholders from all groups (internal and external) expressed need for more education about DACC in order to participate in productive conversations. There was also desire for more information sharing about DACC generally, particularly about available services and successful outcomes experienced by DACC defendants and clients. A total of 63 stakeholder insights indicated a desire for more information sharing about this project and about DACC in general. (Themes: DACC’s Role in the Community; Information, Education and Understanding)  Stakeholders provided specific input on information that should be considered before any recommendations for change are made. This input ranged from cost analysis for staff expansion to data about DACC defendant/client diversity. This information is included in detail in Appendix B. (Themes: DACC’s Role in the Community; Information, Education and Understanding) More detail about these themes, key outputs, and other components of the engagement process is included in the enclosed report detail. Next Steps: Using the recommendations outline in this report, DACC staff has initiated an analysis of the information needed to engage in further discussions about DACC’s current and potential GSA/adjudicated cases. This data analysis will be presented to the DACC Advisory Board in a subsequent report at its November meeting. Section 2: GSA Analysis Project Overview This section provides information about DACC, and the GSA project, with additional details beyond what was included in the Executive Summary. DACC Background: The Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) was established in 1999 with the purpose of collaboratively addressing quality of life issues for residents in the downtown Austin community through the swift, creative sentencing of public order offenders. DACC’s unique compassionate and proactive approach to these community needs have evolved into complementary Court Services and Homeless Services. When the Court was initially created, a geographic focus on downtown Austin was established. In 2005 Austin City Council expanded DACC’s geographic service areas to include a small part of East Austin and the West Campus area of the University of Texas – Austin. These three neighborhoods have been the geographic service area for DACC for over 17 years. According to the City of Austin Housing and Planning Department, Austin has grown by more than 350,000 people (or 53.3%) between 2000 (when DACC was established) and 2020. from 2000, when DACC was established, through 2020. DACC currently adjudicates non-traffic Class C misdemeanor offenses that occur within the three-neighborhood geographic service area (GSA). A map of the current GSA and a list of the Class C misdemeanors adjudicated at DACC are included as Appendix C and Appendix D at the end of this document. That list includes nearly 100 violations, but some of the most common or recognizable Class C misdemeanor violations are for things such as littering, disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication, and pedestrian in the roadway. DACC also adjudicates City and statewide public camping ban violations and sit/lie violations for the entire city, 6 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT beyond the three-neighborhood boundary. Individuals whose court cases are adjudicated at DACC are offered connection to DACC’s Homeless Services unit. Through this unit, DACC provides Intensive Case Management (ICM) services to individuals experiencing homelessness in all parts of Austin (not limited to the GSA), as well as voluntary walk-in case management services to anyone experiencing homelessness who comes into DACC’s location during business hours. Project Details: As DACC continues to provide court services and services to address homelessness, an analysis was prompted by leadership to determine if any changes to DACC’s geographic service area (GSA) should be made, based on current community needs and dynamics. The process to analyze the inherent value of the existing GSA, as well as the Class C misdemeanor cases adjudicated at DACC, began at the DACC management level in Spring 2022. The research questions guiding this effort include: How effective is DACC’s current GSA and adjudicated cases policy? And: Are there changes that should be considered, or potential reimagined operations structures that DACC management should explore? The culmination of data collection, synthesis, and analysis will help determine whether a recommendation for expansion or alteration to DACC’s GSA and adjudicated cases will be made. Stakeholder Engagement Goals: The need for stakeholder engagement emerged early as a critical foundation for effective analysis. Staff from DACC, the Communications & Public Information office (CPIO), and the Austin Public Health (APH) Homeless Strategy Division (HSD) collaborated to create a stakeholder engagement process that would achieve following: Introduce the project to the stakeholder community • • Educate the stakeholder community about DACC and the GSA analysis project • Provide stakeholders the opportunity to inform the project • Gather input from stakeholders to be used in future GSA/adjudicated cases discussions The following sections show the detailed results of the stakeholder engagement process, as well as recommended next steps for the project. Section 3: Stakeholder Engagement Summary and Participant Snapshot Included here is a brief summary of the stakeholder engagement and collected data analysis review methodology. These processes are addressed in more detail in Appendix A. Participants were given a variety of ways to engage with the GSA project, from virtual meetings, to in- person conversations, to surveys that could be completed online or in person with assistance available from City staff. Staff created a page for the project on SpeakUp! Austin, the City’s dedicated community engagement portal. The data collected during the engagement process is largely qualitative, meant to share thoughts, opinions, and priorities to help DACC leadership understand stakeholder perspectives. While some quantitative data was collected and is summarized in this report, the majority of feedback obtained in 7 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT this process was written and verbal qualitative information that contextualizes the project from a community voice perspective. A substantial portion of each type of engagement opportunity provided an educational overview about DACC including the current GSA and types of cases adjudicated by DACC. Providing a baseline of understanding helps meet two goals: to give participants in the input process a higher level of understanding of DACC, and to help facilitate participation in the engagement process. Notes on the Data Analysis Methods Discussions and surveys were designed to align with the “consultation” level of public participation as designed by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2). The public participation goal of the “consultation” level is “to obtain public feedback on analysis, alternatives, and/or decisions. The obligation to stakeholders in the consultation level promises to “keep the public informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced decisions. Public feedback will be sought on drafts and proposals.” Two types of responses were recorded in data from the surveys, meetings, and discussions: References: Insights: A reference is a single mention of a topic, without including an opinion or perspective. An insight is a reference that provides an opinion or perspective from one or more participants. 8 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT References are used to understand stakeholder priorities, and for decision-makers to gain a sense of what things are being talked about in the meetings and survey results. In the results throughout the report, references are collected and counted to create the eight themes that emerged during this process. Insights were not limited to determining stakeholder preferences, but rather to learn what components of this project are important to the Austin community. Insights that reflect stakeholder perspectives and opinions are included with each theme. All pieces of data from meeting/discussion notes and survey responses were reviewed, and weighted equally, categorized into emergent themes, and identified as a reference or insight when necessary. A total of 747 individual data points were recorded and reviewed for this report. A total of 149 references were associated with more than one theme, for a total of 896 references used to create the included themes. A Snapshot of the Stakeholders Stakeholders were categorized internally and externally, however, as described above, input from all stakeholders was weighted equally. Internal stakeholders: Many City of Austin departments are impacted by DACC’s GSA and the types of cases adjudicated by DACC. Three interdepartmental workshops were convened to introduce the project, gather input from 18 departments, and understand practical considerations for these stakeholders. DACC staff members also held one-on-one or small group conversations with other internal stakeholders upon request. External stakeholders: The group of external stakeholders consists of anyone who does not work for the City of Austin. This includes members of partner agencies, residents, business owners and operators, people experiencing homelessness, and other members of the Austin community. External stakeholders were invited to a series of two virtual community meetings, asked to complete the external community survey, and offered the opportunity for one-on-one conversations with DACC staff. Inclusion of perspectives from people with lived experience of homelessness: DACC’s service provision to people experiencing homelessness is a major consideration for this project, and all of DACC’s operations. It is critical for people with lived experience of homelessness to shape this project. DACC has engaged with the Austin Homeless Advisory Council (AHAC) on this project with a survey and an AHAC meeting dedicated to this topic of discussion. DACC will continue to engage with this group as the project develops. Participants by the Numbers The GSA project page on SpeakUp! Austin was live for seven weeks between June and August 2022. This page had 212 total visits, with 59 visitors responding to the public survey embedded in the page. Public survey respondents contributed 240 of the 747 references recorded during the engagement period. 41 9 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT of the survey respondents indicated they lived in zip codes within Austin, with 15 respondents indicating a 78701 zip code (downtown), and others reporting zip codes from surrounding areas. Internal meetings reached approximately 30 City of Austin staff representatives. 10 community members participated in public meetings held virtually in June. Section 4: Emergent Themes and Data Analysis This section includes detail and analysis of the gathered stakeholder input. Input has been categorized amongst eight themes and presented here. Each theme includes an introduction to orient readers about what kinds of discussion was present in the engagement meetings/surveys. “Insights from Participants” includes narratives gleaned directly from stakeholder input. “Quotes from Participants” includes a sampling of quotes from meeting discussions/survey responses related to each theme. Each theme concludes with a description of how the topics are related to the GSA analysis. Themes: Information, Education, and Understanding • Access to Resources • DACC’s Role in the Community • Equity, Fairness and Inclusivity • • Resource Availability • Responses to Potential DACC Changes • System and Processes • Other/General Comments Theme: Access to Resources A total of 152 stakeholder references were related to the theme of Access to Resources. Topics in this theme were often discussed in combination with the Equity and Fairness theme. Discussions largely referenced two types of access: practical access to DACC’s services, and the reasons having access to DACC’s services is important. This theme includes concepts such as barriers to entry, alternative access points (including virtual accessibility to court and services addressing homelessness), and the question of “who in the community should have the ability to come to DACC?” Quotes from Participants “[DACC’s] services can impact people's housing status down the line; [an] important diversionary service across the population.” “[I could] engage in a misdemeanor in a particular block of the City and have a different outcome on a block across the street.” 10 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Insights from Participants  Court access should exist where people are, instead of requiring them to travel. The Court’s downtown location as a barrier was addressed in more than 10 references, and virtual access as a potential solution was brought up five different times.  While technology is an asset to access, it can also be a barrier. Analog opportunities to connect and access resources must be preserved for people without regular access to technology.  Technology can boost accessibility and includes expansion of virtual appearances, lower barriers to cell phones (and service plans), and digital navigation.  Transportation to DACC and throughout Austin was cited more than 20 times as a barrier to resources. Bus transportation specifically was referenced as both a barrier and an asset.  Typical justice involvement and fines often result in barriers to basic needs such as housing. A person’s criminal background can affect their ability to secure housing for the rest of their life. Because DACC can help people avoid a criminal record, access to DACC’s services has the potential to help address those barriers (also discussed in the Equity, Fairness, and Inclusivity theme).  Partnerships with other agencies that have existing Quotes from Participants (Continued) “The people needing the most help do not have access to online or are unable to find the help they need regularly, they have to go on a scavenger hunt to find help. Talking from experience. Austin has a lot of resources but they are difficult to find for those that need it the most, especially if they cannot get online.” “Expanding is a good idea because it is all inclusive and everyone has access.” “Thinking of virtual connection, can DACC partner with other City/County facilities to provide easier access that’s more spread out like community centers with a designated room? Space that could serve both purposes, for court services in person or virtually.” space in underserved areas can ease the cost/barriers to DACC’s potential presence in other parts of Austin. Specific recommendations for enhanced access opportunities include expanded hours, additional locations, and “traveling judges.” How does this inform the GSA discussion: At the core of decision-making around the DACC geographic service area is the question of whether to maintain or expand access to the Court’s benefits. The educational component of the engagement opportunities outlined the benefits DACC provides to the community—alternative sentencing and connections to social service assistance among them. In survey and in conversation, stakeholders wondered why some people in Austin were able to access these benefits while others weren’t, based on the part of town where an ordinance violation occurs. If an expansion of DACC’s GSA is considered, it would provide access to DACC’s benefits for a greater number 11 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT of people. The logistics around accommodating more defendants and clients is addressed in the Resource Availability theme. Barriers to Access Referenced by Stakeholders  Access to specific types of needed care  Challenges navigating a complex system (court system and social service system)  Environment and atmosphere of service provider organizations  Education and awareness limitations  Facility hours and locations  Health and safety barriers (pandemic     and beyond) Justice involvement (barrier to housing, jobs, etc.) Information/privacy requirements as a barrier to resources Lack of places to address personal hygiene Lack of official homelessness status as a barrier to services Theme: DACC’s Role in the Community A total of 125 comments and questions were directed toward the role DACC plays in the Austin community. These insights were related to justice system interventions, judicial services, connections to social services, DACC’s mission, and meeting community needs. Many comments centered around DACC’s role in addressing homelessness, both within the City of Austin and as a part of the community’s homelessness response system. Several insights within this theme were related to DACC’s provision of alternative sentencing for defendants of the Court. Alternative sentencing as an insight was also placed in the themes of Access to Services and Systems and Processes.  Lack of places for unsheltered people to store belongings  Lack of physical address  Mental health as a barrier to  treatment Lack of an achievable plan or set of goals  Majority white people in service roles  Physical limitations  Scarcity of basic needs such as food and water  Service delays, both expected (i.e.: a person's place on waitlist), and unexpected (i.e.: waiting for paperwork)  Social service resource capacity  Transportation Quotes from Participants “[A] diversionary system – folks committing misdemeanors, before things get real we’re the last stop that’s still a formal legal system, but before things go off the deep end we can help with rehab and supports for individuals before things get more serious or drastic.” 12 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Uncertainty or lack of understanding about DACC’s role in the community was also expressed, and more details about missing information is shared below in the Information, Resources, and Education theme. Quotes from Participants (Continued) Insights from Participants  In addition to affirming DACC’s position in homelessness response and the Austin justice system, stakeholders also highlighted DACC’s role in crime prevention. DACC can help people avoid permanent criminal backgrounds and fines for misdemeanors. More information about the barriers caused by criminal backgrounds and fines can be found in the Access to Resources theme.  DACC’s provision of justice system interventions was mentioned 29 times as a community benefit throughout stakeholder meetings and survey responses. “I believe the court helps people with second chances and it is a good thing for a lot of people. They look further into what's going on with a person than other places do.” “How I look at the court is like a big parent. He's going to punish you when you do something wrong, but you have to have something to lose. If I have nothing to lose you can't punish me. Don't punish people.” often plays the role of a navigator to resources available throughout the Austin homelessness response system, in addition to providing direct services.  For people experiencing homelessness, DACC  While homelessness may be more visible in Austin’s downtown, people experiencing homelessness stay in many different areas of the city. A perception of resources being “concentrated” in the downtown is a challenge for agencies trying to connect people with needed services. How does this inform the GSA discussion? As DACC analyzes its current and potential GSA and types of cases adjudicated by DACC, there’s a focus on understanding how DACC could evolve to meet community needs. The theme of DACC’s Role in the Community helps decision-makers understand how stakeholders view DACC, what they might want to see from the DACC, and provides a reminder of the DACC’s original purpose. It also helps visualize how DACC fits into (or could fit into) the City, the community, and the Austin homelessness response system. Theme: Equity, Fairness and Inclusivity A total of 72 references to equity, fairness and inclusivity were recorded in the engagement process. Participants made note of concepts such as inclusivity, racial equity, segregation, underserved areas of Austin, and stigma against people experiencing homelessness. A frequently repeated insight in this theme emphasized the need for DACC’s GSA and other policies to emphasize inclusivity as it related to geography, race, economic status, and student status. They also cited the need for the City of Austin, 13 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT and Austin’s homelessness response system, to continue working toward equitable practices and policies. Insights from Participants  Participant insights included different ideas of how equity could be achieved. Some participants said that, if DACC served only people experiencing homelessness, it would result in segregation of people whose cases are adjudicated at DACC versus at Austin Municipal Court (AMC). Other people said that the community would benefit if DACC’s resources were dedicated only to people experiencing homelessness.  The four HUD-defined categories of homelessness are not inclusive of people in need of assistance, so limiting services to people experiencing homelessness would limit access for people who do not fit into one of the four categories (i.e. “couch surfers,” or people staying temporarily in the home of another person). Quotes from Participants “This should be offered to everyone in the city limits. Why would one physical location deserve help and another does not?????” In discussion related to the Austin homelessness response system (HRS): “Racial/gender equity cannot be achieved just through the new [Austin prioritization index] tool alone, but has to be implemented simultaneously via other means across the HRS.” “One barrier I could foresee is access for those who are non- cisgender, non-White, non- English speaking etc. (i.e., LGBTQIA+, BlPOC, those who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing), who may not feel comfortable accessing services that seem to be primarily provided by a majority White staff.” “Addressing the equity piece would be a citywide effort and require a lot of resources. Not sure if the city is prepared, but it seems like the most equitable approach.”   The court system and the homelessness system are sometimes not inclusive of people’s diverse needs, and trauma-informed practices in these systems would make them more accessible to a more diverse client/defendant population. If DACC only serves some parts of Austin, people will continue to be excluded from accessing its benefits. Increased equity could be achieved if DACC services available to all community members. In stakeholder engagement meetings, this topic was contextualized by the fact that DACC’s services addressing homelessness are available to everyone in Austin (not just those within the current GSA), but connection to those services without case adjudication is a challenge (also addressed in the System and Processes theme), and DACC’s current case management waitlist presents another barrier (also addressed in the Resource availability theme).  DACC’s current GSA includes the campus community for the University of Texas-Austin, but it excludes other Austin schools such as Huston-Tillotson University (a historically Black 14 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT institution), and St. Edwards University. The boundary represented an exclusion of Austin students that do not attend UT from the benefits of DACC. How does this inform the GSA discussion: Stakeholders focused on the need for an equitable approach in all public services. Insights regarding expansion of the GSA said that the entire Austin community should be served by DACC, and could be served in a variety of creative ways. Stakeholders indicated that more demographic information could be shared to better understand who the current GSA serves. Insights from this theme that relate to a GSA expansion can be further developed by data in the theme titled Resource Availability, in which people indicated that any expansion considered should be informed by DACC’s capacity to address additional cases or provide additional social services. Theme: Information, Education and Understanding A total of 63 references to education and informational needs were made throughout the stakeholder engagement period. Participants referenced deficits in knowledge about DACC’s activities, a lack of understanding of community courts and their purpose, information needed for GSA decision-making, and the need for more general information dissemination about DACC. Each of the engagement opportunities included an educational component to provide participants the opportunity to learn more about DACC and provide input from a more informed standpoint. Furthermore, people responded to questions about the current GSA and types of cases adjudicated by DACC, as well as options for future changes, with discussion about capacity and resource availability (also addressed in the Resource Availability theme). Quotes from Participants “Information [is a challenge]. There should be a monument in park (Waterloo) where homeless people can come get to information about homelessness.” “I’m not even certain what a “class c misdemeanor is.” “...People don't know how to talk to someone or have a hard time knowing exactly what help they need. Informational resources are the most needed.” “Repeat offenders may not know what resources are available.”  Numerous questions arose about the project and what data and other information were needed in order to provide effective insights about the GSA and adjudicated cases analysis. In addition to questions about the project, suggestions around general community education about DACC were emphasized.  Insights from Participants  Stakeholders also discussed a general lack of unified information regarding resources available to people experiencing homelessness throughout the community, a systemic challenge for DACC and other service providers. 15 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT  Stakeholders provided specific requests for information to help the GSA/adjudicated cases discussions. A list of those information requests is included in the Appendix of this document. How does this inform the GSA discussion: Discussions related to DACC/GSA information and education help DACC leadership understand what questions need to be answered before decisions can be made. Learning what questions external stakeholders ask provides critical perspective on the issue. Appendix B of this report includes a list of additional data to collect and analyze for the next phase of the project. Theme: Resource Availability A total of 61 references to resource availability were made during the public engagement process. Stakeholders talked about general considerations of funding allocated to DACC, what resources would be required to take on additional cases, and concerns about DACC’s service levels changing due to an increase in court defendants/case management clients. When appropriate, DACC leadership described DACC’s ongoing priority of responsible scaling to maintain current quality and intensity of services. Quotes from Participants “Quantity of services might overwhelm the quality of services if the proper staff and resources are not increased...there will be challenges as current staff increase their client case load.” “[If DACC takes on more cases], I think the focus on case management will get lost and people who need these services may start to be underserved.” “Without a guaranteed vast increase in space, staff, and resources, I wouldn't want it to expand. But with those, then yes, it makes sense.” Insights from Participants  A total of 25 references to current and future resource challenges were included in the meeting discussions and survey responses. Participants mostly referenced case management resource needs, however, references also included Court Services resource needs for potential expansion components such as additional court security, court facility costs, and staffing.  Specific references to DACC’s current case management waitlist were made by both community members and City staff representatives. In discussions where expansion of the GSA was considered, stakeholders noted that, with a waitlist that includes hundreds of people, the current demand for services exceeds service capacity.  Some comments indicated that DACC’s resources should, as often as possible, be used to help people experiencing homelessness. Citations for housed individuals would be adjudicated at AMC. Others mentioned potential efficiencies for people experiencing homelessness if all housed people were seen at AMC. 16 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT  Service efficiencies might be lost if DACC expands, and a balance between the quantity of services and the quality of services was described. How does this inform the GSA discussion: As DACC works to understand stakeholder priorities around services, equity, access, and other considerations, ties to needed resources will need to be an ongoing part of the conversation. Specific questions and ongoing research needs about resources are included as part of the Information, Education, and Understanding theme. Theme: Responses to Potential DACC Changes A total of 228 references to potential DACC changes were recorded, with 109 responses that indicated specific preferences about the GSA, adjudicated case types, and populations served by DACC. All other comments and responses were either contextual to the questions (without answering explicitly), or indicated uncertainty (I.e. “not sure”). In both surveys and community engagement meetings, participants were asked to indicate preferences around several specific questions:  Should DACC’s GSA expand beyond the current boundaries?  Should DACC serve only people experiencing homelessness, or anyone that is charged with a Class C misdemeanor?  Should DACC’s current practices to process Proposition B and the Statewide camping ban violations citywide be formalized?  Should DACC address only Prop B and Statewide camping ban violations, and no other Class C misdemeanors? Insights from Participants  A total of 29 insights provided a direct response to the question of: Should DACC expand beyond its current geographic service area, with 27 stakeholders (93 percent) supporting expansion and two stakeholders indicating that they do not support expansion. Quotes from Participants “...if we were to limit to homeless individuals only, what positive impact would we be giving up for other populations?” If DACC were to address only citations for Proposition B/Statewide camping ban violations: “DACC most likely becomes the MECCA location for homeless cited on issues related to Prop. B.” “[DACC shouldn’t focus on] people who are self-reliant and don't need help. Low-income people.”  When asked the question: Should only people experiencing homelessness have their cases addressed at DACC? 18 respondents (31 percent) said that DACC should address cases involving people experiencing homelessness only, while 40 respondents (69 percent) said DACC should 17 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT not be limited to cases involving people experiencing homelessness (with several comments indicating that DACC’s social services should be available to people experiencing economic/housing insecurity, instead of just literal homelessness)  A total of six responses were supportive of formalizing DACC’s response to Prop B/Statewide camping ban violations, and one said that DACC’s response to the Prop B/Statewide camping ban violations should not be formalized.  A total of six responses said that DACC should only adjudicate Prop B/Statewide camping ban violations, while 11 said DACC should not limit its cases to Prop B/Statewide camping ban violations.  A total of 77 “other” references related to the Response to Potential DACC Changes theme didn’t indicate specific preferences around the questions, but included context and discussed other elements of change (I.e.: “An expansion of DACC’s geographic service area could provide more work for APD Officers”). Many of these responses were relevant to and therefore included in other themes in this report. How does this inform the GSA discussion: While much of the information included in other insights is qualitative, this section provides specific responses to preference-based questions posed to stakeholders. Some responses to specific questions indicate pronounced support for a specific option (ex: 27 supportive statements for DACC’s expansion and two expressions against support), while others are less clearly aligned with one option or another. Understanding the diversity of opinions and preferences in this subset of stakeholders may be indicative of diversity amongst the wider population of people that interact with DACC. Theme: System and Processes A total of 94 System and Processes references were made in the stakeholder engagement surveys and discussions. General safety and policing are components of the System and Processes theme, an issue that is adjacent to DACC’s GSA/adjudicated cases discussion. People also discussed the ways that people experiencing homelessness are connected to resources within the existing systems, whether through formalized action (receiving a citation, coming to DACC, and receiving a referral for case management) or informal action (coming to DACC on their own without a citation or referral, or by being recommended to come to DACC by a Police Officer or other social service provider). While justice system interventions are included above in the theme of DACC’s Role in the Community, specific interventions such as court/jail diversion and community service opportunities are also part of the Systems and Processes theme. Other discussion included the different roles and responsibilities of DACC and AMC, as well as the interactions between DACC, APD, and community members. Process and system components drive the method by which cases are adjudicated at DACC or AMC, the interactions between DACC and other City departments, and the outputs and outcomes of the City’s justice system. Data and informational needs are also a component of the System and Processes theme, however, they are outlined in more detail in the Information, Education, and Understanding theme. 18 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Insights from Participants  As responders to public safety issues, Police Officers are often the start of an interaction between a person and the judicial system. There may be several administrative components present in an interaction between an Officer and a subject.  Police Officers have different levels of knowledge about DACC’s services, therefore, there may be inconsistencies in providing social service information to people experiencing homelessness. If DACC’s GSA was to change, partnering with Officers that patrol other areas of Austin would help reinforce those social service connections. Another element of that social service connection discussed is the availability of social services at DACC and other agencies. Although a referral to DACC may be made, the waitlist may still prevent timely, on-going assistance for individuals in need of intensive services.  When connecting a person with social service resources, an Officer may sometimes encounter ambiguity around a person’s housing status. Stakeholders discussed the challenges around connecting a person experiencing homelessness with resources if their housing status is unclear.  While Judges at AMC have the ability to provide referrals to social service agencies (and often do, according to staff), there still can be challenges in follow-through for those referrals. DACC has that component built into its service delivery model.  Stakeholders discussed and supported different approaches to citation for Class C misdemeanors in Austin. Some stakeholders said that they think a less punitive approach would benefit the community, others said they would support an opposite approach. Quotes from Participants “[I am] solicited quite often and call 9-1-1 once a week due to threats to personal safety...still finding it unsafe and don’t feel what’s working in relation to the Class C misdemeanors given the safety factors." “[I’m] curious whether DACC and AMC could be structured slightly differently in intake when citations are issued to connect people to DACC to services on a needs base.” “You could reduce the docket and homelessness by de-punitizing the whole process at the citation level. The arresting officer could offer DACC service.” “I think the general attitude of the officer writing the citation will determine how people will feel about getting services that can help people. People who have bad experiences will officers try to run as far away from those officers and what services they are suggesting as they possibly can.”  Community service as an option for DACC defendants is generally seen as a high-value component of DACC’s Court Services processes. Stakeholders mentioned the value of the partnerships between DACC and other City departments who benefit from defendants completing community service in their area. Others cited the general community concept, 19 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT including graffiti abatement and other public purpose and beautification opportunities, as mutually beneficial to individuals and the community. How does this inform the GSA discussion: As described earlier in this report, access to DACC’s resources is a major component of the GSA discussion. This section includes considerations about processes that facilitate access, as well as other system-level components like public safety and the logistics of linkages to resources. Theme: General, Other Comments This section reflects references and insights that did not fit into other themes outlined in the report. A total of 101 references were unrelated to the other seven themes outlined in this report. Although these references and the related insights were not included in a theme, they may still provide relevance to DACC’s GSA and adjudicated cases discussion. While many of these were references to information that did not include a particular viewpoint or opinion, the Insights section below includes a summary of those uncategorized viewpoints, ideas, and opinions. Insights from Public Input  Trust of APD is an issue for some people.  DACC should consider additional opportunities for leniency.  People with mental health and/or substance use issues should be forced into services. Quotes from Participants “Unfortunately some of the homeless do violate other city ordinances and laws. They should still be brought to places to connect them to services.” “The court should help people complete their paperwork online too.” “The court has a good reputation.”  Few violators of Prop B/Statewide camping ban receive citations.  Some people experiencing homelessness do not want services.  People will seek services if they believe the services will help them.  Crime has increased over time.  There are safety issues in downtown Austin.  DACC provides a benefit to the community.  DACC handles cases in a humane way with positive outcomes.  It is crucial for people attempting to exit homelessness to have a personalized strategy that can guide their actions. How does this inform the GSA discussion: As indicated above, an insight doesn’t have to be related to a specific theme to be useful to the GSA discussion. These items were included to provide insights that would otherwise not be reflected in the stakeholder engagement reporting. 20 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Section 5: Summary and Next Steps The stakeholder response and dialogue above reveals thoughtful, inclusive considerations to DACC’s current and future operations. At the close of the project’s initial stakeholder engagement period, a summary of key takeaways from this effort has been developed, along with potential next steps for the project. Key Takeaways Included here is a list of the major takeaways from the stakeholder engagement process. Note that the stakeholder engagement data came from a combination of conversations and survey responses. To enhance inclusivity, no questions or topics were required for participation. The information below is reflective of survey and meeting participants who chose to engage on that particular topic, not necessarily every single participant. The associated themes for each Key Takeaway are noted in each bullet point.  Expanding DACC’s GSA to other parts of Austin is supported by 93 percent of participants that chose to express their preference. (Themes: Responses to Potential DACC Changes, DACC’s Role in the Community, Access to Resources; Equity, Fairness, and Inclusivity)  DACC maintaining case types for housed people (instead of exclusively serving people experiencing homelessness) is supported by 69 percent of participants that chose to express their preference. (Themes: Responses to Potential DACC Changes, System and Processes)  Stakeholders were supportive of DACC’s expansion in GSA and social service provision, with several stakeholders expressing that caveat that they would support expansion only if it was supported with adequate available resources. More than 40 individual stakeholder references to geographic or service expansion directly emphasized the resources needed to maintain quality service levels. (Themes: Responses to Potential DACC Changes, Resource Availability)  Stakeholders frequently discussed ways to strengthen opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness to connect to social service, with more than two dozen stakeholder references specifically indicating a desire for court and citation processes to include enhanced resource connectivity. Many other references related to a general need for resource connectivity for people involved in the court system or people experiencing homelessness. Stakeholders cited both the ticketing process and the Court appearance as opportunities for APD and DACC staff to create and enhance those opportunities. (Themes: Access to Resources, DACC’s Role in the Community, System and Processes)  Stakeholders expressed desire for elements such as access and equity to be prioritized in upcoming decision-making or recommendations regarding DACC’s GSA and adjudicated cases, with particular attention to the current exclusion of DACC’s benefits for people outside of the current GSA boundaries. Access to resources was referenced 152 times by stakeholders, and equity was referenced 72 times. (Themes: Access to Resources; Equity, Fairness, and Inclusivity) 21  DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT In discussions/questions about citations, responses did not strongly align with any particular viewpoints. Some respondents said they want to see more enforcement for Class C misdemeanors; others prefer a more lenient approach. Multiple stakeholder comments indicated a need for more information/understanding before forming an opinion. (Themes: Responses to Potential DACC Changes, System and Processes, Access to Resources)  Stakeholders from all groups (internal and external) expressed need for more education about DACC in order to participate in productive conversations. There was also desire for more information sharing about DACC generally, particularly about available services and successful outcomes experienced by DACC defendants and clients. A total of 63 stakeholder insights indicated a desire for more information sharing about this project and about DACC in general. (Themes: DACC’s Role in the Community; Information, Education and Understanding)  Stakeholders provided specific input on information that should be considered before any recommendations for change are made. This input ranged from cost analysis for staff expansion to data about DACC defendant/client diversity. This information is included in detail in Appendix B. (Themes: DACC’s Role in the Community; Information, Education and Understanding) Ongoing Stakeholder Engagement Upon production of this report, the initial stakeholder engagement period for DACC’s GSA/adjudicated case types is complete. That said, strategic stakeholder engagement will continue throughout the project until its conclusion. As outlined in Section 3, DACC’s commitment to the community under IAP2’s “consultation” model is to “keep the public informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced decisions. Public feedback will be sought on drafts and proposals.” Pending feedback on the currently community engagement content, additional opportunities for public input will be developed and implemented accordingly. Project Next Steps Using the recommendations outline in this report, DACC staff will initiate an analysis of the information needed to engage in further discussions about DACC’s current and potential GSA and adjudicated cases based on feedback and direction from the DACC Advisory Board. This data analysis will be presented to the DACC Advisory Board in a subsequent report at its November 2022 meeting. 22 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Stakeholder Engagement Approach and Methodology Detail Stakeholder engagement methods vary based on the needs of individual projects. This appendix provides detail on the project’s unique needs, and the ways DACC worked to fulfill these needs. As introduced in the report, DACC’s stakeholder engagement process aimed to achieve four things: Appendix A Introduce the project to the stakeholder community • • Educate the stakeholder community about DACC and the GSA analysis project • Provide stakeholders the opportunity to inform the project • Gather input from stakeholders to guide future GSA/adjudicated cases discussions Staff from DACC, the Communications & Public Information office (CPIO), and the Austin Public Health (APH) Homeless Strategy Division (HSD) collaborated to create a stakeholder engagement process that would meet those four needs. Engagement and Data Collection Approach and Methods Due to the complexity of the project, participants weren’t engaged with the singular purpose of gathering consensus. Instead, the aim was to let stakeholders inform the next steps in the analysis. Data from stakeholders helps decision-makers see the situation from different perspectives and provide a narrative to guide the project. The DACC Advisory Board will review input and potentially make recommendations to the City Council. Any formal changes to DACC’s GSA and/or types of cases adjudicated would ultimately require action by the City Council. To that goal, the majority of questions presented in meetings and surveys were open-ended, discussion style questions that allowed participants to express their opinions openly and without strict parameters on the type of feedback they could provide. Discussions and surveys were designed to align with the “consultation” level of public participation as designed by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2). The public participation goal of the “consultation” level is “to obtain public feedback on analysis, alternatives, and/or decisions. The obligation to stakeholders in the consultation level promises to “keep the public informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced decisions. Public feedback will be sought on drafts and proposals.” Two types of responses were recorded in data from the surveys, meetings, and discussions: References: A reference is a single mention of a topic, without including an opinion or perspective. 23 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Insights: An insight is a reference that provides an opinion or perspective from one or more participants. References are used to understand stakeholder priorities, and for decision-makers to gain a sense of what things are being talked about in the meetings and survey results. In the results below, references are collected and counted to create the eight themes that emerged during this process. Insights were not limited to determining stakeholder preferences, but rather to learn what components of this project are important to the Austin community. Insights that reflect stakeholder perspectives and opinions are included with each theme. All pieces of data from meeting/discussion notes and survey responses were reviewed, and weighted equally, categorized into emergent themes, and identified as a reference or insight when necessary. A total of 747 data point references were recorded and reviewed for this report. A total of 149 references were associated with more than one theme, for a total of 896 references used to create the included themes. Methods and Reach for Engaging Stakeholders Participants were given a variety of ways to engage with the GSA project, from virtual meetings, to in- person conversations, to surveys that could be completed online or in person with assistance available from City staff. The data collected during the engagement process is largely qualitative, meant to share thoughts, opinions, and priorities to help DACC leadership understand stakeholder perspectives. While some quantitative data was collected and is summarized in this report, the majority of feedback obtained in this process was written and verbal qualitative information that contextualizes the project from a community voice perspective. A substantial portion of each type of engagement opportunity provided an educational overview about DACC including the current GSA and types of cases adjudicated by DACC. Providing a baseline of understanding helps meet two goals: to give participants in the input process a higher level of understanding of DACC, and to help facilitate participation in the engagement process. Stakeholders were categorized internally and externally, however, as described above, input from all stakeholders was weighted equally. Internal stakeholders: Many City of Austin departments are impacted by DACC’s GSA and the types of cases adjudicated by DACC. Three interdepartmental workshops were convened to introduce the project, gather input from 18 departments, and understand practical considerations for these stakeholders. DACC staff members also held one-on-one or small group conversations with other internal stakeholders upon request. Most of this reach was conducted virtually. 24 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT External stakeholders: The group of external stakeholders consists of anyone who does not work for the City of Austin. This includes members of partner agencies, residents, business owners and operators, people experiencing homelessness, and other members of the Austin community. External stakeholders were invited to a series of two virtual community meetings, asked to complete the external community survey, and offered the opportunity for one-on-one conversations with DACC staff. Inclusion of perspectives from people with lived experience of homelessness: DACC’s service provision to people experiencing homelessness is a major consideration for this project, and all of DACC’s operations. It is critical for people with lived experience of homelessness to shape this project. DACC has engaged with the Austin Homeless Advisory Council (AHAC) on this project with a survey and an AHAC meeting dedicated to this topic of discussion. DACC will continue to engage with this group as the project develops. Engagement opportunities were promoted in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to:  Analog: Posters with survey and meeting information were posted at DACC, the Violet Keepsafe storage facility, Austin libraries and other facilities designated as cooling centers  Online: Meetings and survey opportunities were shared via Facebook, NextDoor, and Twitter. A promotional segment was aired on Austin’s public media station and shared with local news websites. DACC also promoted engagement opportunities via email to community partners and stakeholders through its voluntary distribution list.  SpeakUp! Austin: In partnership with the City’s Public Information Office (CPIO) and Austin Public Health’s Homeless Strategy Division (HSD), an educational and input-gathering page was created for the SpeakUp! Austin community engagement web portal. This portal also hosted the external stakeholder survey.  Community-based promotion: Meeting and survey information was shared with stakeholder  networks for their assistance in promotion. In-person promotion and facilitation: To promote participation opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, DACC and HSD staff hosted open-house style walk-up conversations at the Violet Keepsafe storage facility, where they promoted the project, answered questions, and facilitated completion of the external stakeholder survey. Acknowledgement of Process Limitations In every research initiative, limitations are present, and acknowledgement of those limitations is critical to the context of the project. For the DACC GSA analysis project, staff worked to anticipate limitations and provide alternatives whenever feasible. Below is a list of limitations present in the GSA stakeholder engagement efforts:  COVID-19 safety needs: In June and July, Travis County recorded a spike in COVID-19 infections that peaked on July 5, 2022. Because of this increased safety concern, previously planned in person meetings were conducted virtually. AHAC was also surveyed virtually in April 2022. Knowing that virtual-only access is a barrier to some stakeholders, staff decided to extend the 25 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT survey period and conduct in-person, open-house style opportunities for people to engage in smaller groups.  Engagement with a portion of affected stakeholders: In most community engagement efforts, only a portion of stakeholders will participate. This is a result of limitations in promotional ability, timing and scheduling restrictions, and whether stakeholders choose to engage. To account for this limitation, data was gathered with the intention of informing and contextualizing the project, rather than attempting to gain consensus.  Knowledge and information sharing about DACC/the GSA project: Numerous stakeholders indicated that their knowledge of DACC’s operations and understanding of the GSA project were limited. Because of this limitation, DACC staff worked to include a significant educational component in each engagement opportunity. Being respectful of participants’ time, while also working to educate them and gather data was a challenge, however, anecdotal responses from participants suggest that the educational components were worthwhile. 26 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Appendix B GSA Data Analysis Needs Shown below is a list of additional data analysis needs for each identified theme. Most of these requests came from the stakeholder engagement process, however, some of the items below have been identified by DACC staff. The list below is not considered comprehensive, and staff seeks input on other data needs. Theme 1: Access to Resources  Identify and analyze court services/homelessness services needs in areas of Austin where DACC’s GSA could expand a. Data related to AMC defendants who would alternatively come to DACC for their case adjudication b. Data related to undocumented people experiencing homelessness in different parts of Austin  Some of this information may be found in HMIS Theme 2: DACC’s Role in the Community  Identify data that shows effectiveness of DACC’s current services, as well as alignment with mission-related desired outcomes a. Percentage of people coming through ICM program via Court vs. walk- up/waitlist b. Percentage of people that choose to complete community service through DACC c. Measure DACC’s positive outputs/outcomes for housed people d. Percentage of people that are cited who pay fines compared to percentage of people who complete deferred dispositions e. Field citations compared to field arrests Theme 3: Equity, Fairness and Inclusivity  Demographic information for current/potential DACC clients and defendants a. Race and age data for DACC defendants and DACC ICM clients in general i.Demographic information for DACC defendants who are housed b. Percentage of DACC defendants that are students c. Percentage of DACC defendants who live outside of Austin Theme 4: Information, Education, and Understanding  Determine what non-monetary operational changes are required a. What administrative changes would occur if more/different cases were to come to DACC instead of AMC? b. What changes would be required to update the electronic citation process  AMC has indicated that there isn’t a cost for the vendor to do this, but it will require internal staff work c. Training for APD Officers on changes to GSA/DACC charges adjudicated Determine what policy changes would be required if DACC’s GSA or adjudicated cases • list was recommended for change a. Law Department can advise b. Input to be requested from other community courts 27 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Theme 5: Resource Availability  Current limitations of the ICM capacity/waitlist status a. How large is the current waitlist b. How long is the wait for the ICM program c. What is the wait for other social service agencies that provide similar case management approaches? If a recommendation is made to expand DACC’s GSA to other areas of Austin, what associated costs can be anticipated?   a. Additional staff (Court Services and ICM) b. Facility space c. Other operational costs d. Social service funding Theme 6: Responses to Potential DACC Changes Information related to alternative appearance options: What is the feasibility for DACC to expand virtual appearances, create mobile court opportunities in other parts of Austin? Is this possible from a policy/legal perspective? a. b. What costs are associated?  Determine a way to analyze efficacy of the current charge codes Theme 7: System and Processes  Citation data – how can we analyze effectiveness? a. Are there types of citations that lead to more success (i.e. people engage less with the justice system in the future), whereas other citations may see less of a change in trajectory? How can DACC sort through those options? b. Analyze appearance rates; number of cases addressed for a person that walks in for Triage, etc. but has a case adjudicated because they have a warrant, etc.  Number of referrals that come to DACC from AMC on a monthly basis 28 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Appendix C 29 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Class C Misdemeanors Adjudicated at DACC (Page 1) Appendix D 30 DACC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT REPORT Class C Misdemeanors Adjudicated at DACC (Page 2) Appendix D 31