Santa Cruz County Municipal Code Ch. 2.126 Commission on Justice and Gender

The Commission on Justice and Gender is established under the authority of Government Code Section 31000.1, and in compliance with SCCC § 2.38.060.

(Ord. 5329 § 2, 2020)

The purpose of the Commission on Justice and Gender is to identify and address issues related to women and girls directly impacted by the criminal justice system and/or gender-based violence, including trauma caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, separation from children, lack of housing, and sexual abuse in custody, and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in an effort to reduce harm to women and their families and end intergenerational incarceration.

(Ord. 5329 § 2, 2020; Ord. 5353 § 1, 2020)

The Commission on Justice and Gender shall consist of the following members who have experience related to gender-based violence:

(A) The Sheriff-Coroner or their designee; or a chief of a police agency, or that police chief's designee, as designated by the Law Enforcement Chiefs Association of the County;

(B) The District Attorney or their designee;

(C) One judge or their designee, to be chosen by the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of the County of Santa Cruz;

(D) The Chief Probation Officer or their designee;

(E) The Public Defender or their designee;

(F) The Superintendent of the County Office of Education or their designee;

(G) The Director of the Health Services Agency or their designee;

(H) The Director of the Human Services Department or their designee;

(I) One representative of each of the following, as appointed by the Board of Supervisors, upon nomination by the identified agency:

(1) Monarch Services;

(2) Walnut Avenue Family and Women's Center;

(3) Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Cruz County; and

(4) An organization representing the target population, as determined by the Commission.

(J) The following at-large representatives, as appointed by the Board of Supervisors:

(1) A survivor of gender-based violence;

(2) A representative of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) community;

(3) A representative of the Latinx community;

(4) A representative of the Black or African American community; and

(5) A woman who has experienced incarceration.

(Ord. 5329 § 2, 2020; Ord. 5353 § 2, 2020)

(A) A member appointed pursuant to the provisions of SCCC § 2.126.020(A) through (H) shall serve on the Commission ex officio, as long as such member continues to hold the office or appointment which initially qualified them for membership. This provision for term of office constitutes an exception to SCCC § 2.38.100.

(B) A member appointed pursuant to the provisions of SCCC § 2.126.020(I) or (J) shall serve terms as set forth in SCCC § 2.38.100.

(Ord. 5329 § 2, 2020)

(A) General Organization. The Commission shall comply in all respects with SCCC § 2.38.110 through § 2.38.250 unless otherwise provided herein.

(B) Quorum. The quorum for the Commission shall be one person more than one-half of the appointed members. This quorum requirement constitutes an exception to SCCC § 2.38.150.

(C) Support Staff. The County Administrative Office shall provide support to the Commission.

(D) Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least biannually in various locations throughout the County. Other meetings may be scheduled as determined by the Commission.

(Ord. 5329 § 2, 2020)

The Commission on Justice and Gender shall exercise the following responsibilities in achieving its purpose:

(A) System Improvement. Help increase coordination between agencies, community-based organizations and the courts, identify ways to improve access to family services, healthcare, housing, education, and employment services, and conduct outreach with an equity focus to underserved populations of women and girls directly impacted by the criminal justice system and/or gender-based violence;

(B) Education, Prevention, and Intervention. Promote effective and accessible education, prevention, intervention and treatment with a gender focus that is responsive to racial and cultural differences, and is based upon trauma-informed, evidence-based practices, in order to prevent cycles of violence and incarceration; and

(C) Reporting and Accountability. Examine issues relating to women and girls directly impacted by the criminal justice system and/or gender-based violence, including trauma, domestic violence, homelessness, sexual abuse, and intergenerational incarceration, and make recommendations for administrative and legislative action to be taken by the Board of Supervisors to reduce harm to these women and their families.

(Ord. 5329 § 2, 2020)