COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office hired the Bright Research Group (BRG) to gather the voices of community members to inform this process.  BRG, a woman of color-owned, small, emerging local business based in Oakland, provided an authentic and insightful approach to the community engagement process.  The BRG team attained the community perspective on Sheriff’s Office practices, policies, and interactions via three virtual community forums and a comprehensive online community survey.  The survey was distributed to all areas of Alameda County by community organizations, public officials, Sheriff’s Office personnel, and other county partners.  (Link to report)

 

In addition to the research conducted by the Working Group, the survey results and summaries of the community forums provided by BRG were used to produce the objectives and tasks listed below.

 

OBJECTIVE 1

 

Create a holistic approach to policing in Alameda County

 

STATUS

 

TASK 1.1

 

Actively engage in the Legislative Process.

 

 

 

TASK 1.2

 

Repair and build trust in marginalized communities in our service areas.

 

 

 

TASK 1.3

 

Continue participation in programs meant to increase accountability and transparency i.e., accreditation(s), inspections, etc.

 

 

 

TASK 1.4

 

Improve communications sent to the community by developing a robust Communications Team.

 

 

 

TASK 1.5

 

Create in-person opportunities for the community to engage with the Sheriff directly.

 

 

 

TASK 1.6

 

Identify agency policies and practices which negatively impact marginalized communities.

 

 

 

TASK 1.7

 

Utilize existing community-based meetings that are specific to key issues to identify stakeholders in the space and work collaboratively with them.

 

 

 

TASK 1.8

 

Identify any gaps in communication and devise strategies to fill those gaps.

 

 

 

TASK 1.9

 

Invite elected officials, community members, and leaders to observe events, meetings, and processes of the Sheriff’s Office in order to obtain their feedback.

 

 

 

TASK 1.10

 

Create agency-wide initiatives focused on improving staff engagement with the community.

 

 

 

TASK 1.11

 

Introduce customer service training for staff.

 

 

 

TASK 1.12

 

Distribute information to the community in multiple languages.

 

 

 

TASK 1.13

 

Find ways for all staff to feel connected to the community we serve.

 

 

 

OBJECTIVE 2

 

Build partnerships with community members, Community-Based Organizations, and other County agencies to further the achievement of our shared goal of a Crime Free County

 

STATUS

 

TASK 2.1

 

Cultivate relationships with community members and leaders, elected officials, and other non-law enforcement county agencies.

 

 

 

TASK 2.2

 

Implement community engagement strategies across the agency.

 

 

 

TASK 2.3

 

Collaborate with Community-Based Organizations on how to best serve marginalized communities.

 

 

 

TASK 2.4

 

Create a resource guide for agency members which identifies Community-Based Organizations and other partners who can assist.

 

 

 

TASK 2.5

 

Meet with community leaders/stakeholders to develop collaborative policing initiatives.

 

 

 

OBJECTIVE 3

 

Ensure ACSO practices do not criminalize behaviors associated with mental health concerns or the conditions of being unhoused in our community

 

STATUS

 

TASK 3.1

 

Work on solutions to divert those suffering from substance abuse and mental health crises away from Santa Rita Jail.

 

TASK 3.2

 

Ensure an effective response to community members suffering from mental health concerns through increased crisis Intervention and

de-escalation training.

 

TASK 3.3

 

Work with county leaders and others to expand the reach of the Community Assessment and Transport Team (CATT).

 

TASK 3.4

 

Work with Adult Forensic Behavioral Health (AFBH) to establish innovative practices to improve services provided to those suffering from mental health concerns while in custody.

 

 

 

TASK 3.5

 

Educate deputies about the resources available to them and to those most vulnerable.

 

 

 

TASK 3.6

 

Decrease ACSO response to non-violent situations which involve mental health crises or homelessness.

 

 

 

TASK 3.7

 

Support investments in community-based organizations who have capacity to assist those experiencing homelessness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OBJECTIVE 4

 

Reimagine the role of law enforcement on school campuses

 

STATUS

 

TASK 4.1

 

Establish a relationship of trust and partnership with the educators and School Districts in Alameda County.

 

 

 

TASK 4.2

 

Create focus groups made up of parents and school officials to discuss the School Resource Officer program.

 

 

 

TASK 4.3

 

Utilize available juvenile diversion programs and counseling services through the Deputy Sheriff’s Activities League (DSAL) and the Community Oriented Response and Engagement Unit (CORE), and other community-based organizations.

 

 

 

TASK 4.4

 

Partner with CBO’s and mental health service providers to implement programs for students that teach coping mechanisms and strategies for stress management leading to improved mental health for middle school and high school age students.

 

 

 

TASK 4.5

 

Create a new School Resource Officers (SRO) model for presentation to schools in our service areas.

 

 

 

TASK 4.6

 

Introduce evidence-based practices around dealing with youth and ways to avoid introducing youth to the justice system.