Fiscal Year 2013 Recommended Budget Book - Lake County

Conservation and ComplianceBCC news releases, and Lake Sumter Community College public television spots, it is anticipated that a strongervolunteer program to help care for the overwhelming amount of animals arriving at the shelter will be accomplished.• The Code Enforcement Division will continue to provide excellent customer service by responding to new complaints inless than two days whenever possible. With existing staff levels and funding the Division will remain on a complaintdriven program throughout the year.Lake County is a Leader in Multi-jurisdictional Cooperation:• The Probation Division works closely and effectively with Judges, attorneys, law enforcement/corrections agencies,mental health and substance abuse service providers, civic groups, faith communities, and other organizations to ensureoffenders are effectively supervised and held accountable for law abiding behavior and compliance with legalrequirements. The Division also works in cooperation with the Interstate Compact office and community correctionsagencies throughout the state to ensure the continuity of supervision for offenders moving to and from Lake County. TheDivision Manager serves as a member of the Florida Association of Community Corrections and serves on the LakeCounty Public Safety Coordinating Council. Division staff members participate on multi-jurisdictional taskforces/workgroups focusing on civic engagement, offender re-entry, criminal intelligence, sex offenders/ predators andcriminal justice information systems. Using existing staffing levels it is anticipated that effective offender supervisionservices will be maintained in cooperation with community partners.• The Teen Court program works closely and effectively with Judges, attorneys, law enforcement,school personnel, mental health and substance abuse service providers, non-profit agencies andmembers of professional and service organizations to ensure that the program is run with fidelityand that the needs of at-risk juveniles are being met. The Lake County Teen Court programworks in cooperation with other Teen Court programs throughout the state and handles transfer ofsupervision cases as needed. The Lake County Teen Court Program Specialist is President of theFlorida Association of Teen Courts and has been recognized at the state and national level for hercooperative efforts to improve services to youth in our community. The Program expects to seeimproved services to defendants/family, teen and adult volunteers, multi-jurisdictional partnersand the community in addition to increased use of evidence based practices and awareness ofeffective local resources. The Work in Lieu of Arrest (WILA) civil citation program was developed and implemented asa cooperative partnership between the Board of County Commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office,the Public Defender’s Office, the School Board and the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide youth an opportunityto be held accountable for a first time misdemeanor offense without having charges brought against them. Withcontinued funding from dedicated court fees and continued cooperation with the identified parties the programanticipates a reduced number of youth charged for a first time misdemeanor offense.Social Services are Provided to Those in Need Throughout the Entire County:• Probation Division personnel supervise offenders at two satellite offices in addition to the main office and JudicialCenter to maintain accessibility and offender reporting compliance. Community agency provider directory and Reentryresource cards are maintained by Probation Division staff and referrals are made to community agencies with locationsthroughout the region to meet housing, vocational, legal, educational, therapeutic and social service needs of victims andoffenders. Using existing staffing levels the Division expects to maintain community access to criminal justice servicesfor victims and offenders in outlying areas of north and south Lake County. Community agencies and resources areidentified throughout the region for use by citizens to meet their housing, vocational, legal, educational, therapeutic andsocial service needs.Lake County Preserves Environmental Resources:• The Code Enforcement Division will investigate all complaints that relate to damaging activities that may affectenvironmental issues. By providing continued education to the staff and maintaining the qualifications of ourenvironmental specialist, the Division expects to properly investigate all complaints in conjunction with the FloridaDepartment of Environmental Protection (FDEP).F - 22