File #: 23-567   
Status: Agenda Ready
In control: Human Services - Crisis Intervention and Support Division
Agenda Date: 6/6/2023 Final action: 6/6/2023
Title: MOTION TO APPROVE Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between The GEO Group, Inc., and Broward County, effective from the date of full execution for five years, for Broward County's Nancy J. Cotterman Center to provide confidential emotional support, therapy services and forensic medical examinations to detainees at the Broward Transitional Center who are survivors of sexual abuse; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to renew the MOU for up to five additional years and execute amendments to the MOU that do not materially modify the County's obligations under the MOU, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative actions to implement the MOU.
Indexes: Established Commission Goals
Attachments: 1. Exhibit 1 - GEO NJCC PREA MOU
Date Action ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsVideo
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Broward County Commission Regular Meeting                               

Director's Name:  Tara Williams

Department:                       Human Services                                          Division: Crisis Intervention & Support

 

Information

Requested Action

title

MOTION TO APPROVE Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between The GEO Group, Inc., and Broward County, effective from the date of full execution for five years, for Broward County’s Nancy J. Cotterman Center to provide confidential emotional support, therapy services and forensic medical examinations to detainees at the Broward Transitional Center who are survivors of sexual abuse; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to renew the MOU for up to five additional years and execute amendments to the MOU that do not materially modify the County’s obligations under the MOU, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative actions to implement the MOU.

 

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Why Action is Necessary

Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements with external agencies.

 

What Action Accomplishes

Approval of the Motion enables Broward County, through the Nancy J. Cotterman Center (“NJCC”), to collaborate with The GEO Group, Inc. (“GEO”) to provide detainees at the Broward Transitional Center (“BTC”) who are survivors of sexual abuse (“Detained Survivor”) with access to confidential emotional support, therapy services, and forensic medical examinations.

 

Is this Action Goal Related

Yes

 

Previous Action Taken

None

 

Summary Explanation/Background

THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.

 

This action supports the Commission’s value of “building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives”, and the goal of “delivering accessible human services that holistically address the whole person collaboratively and compassionately”. Collaboration with GEO allows NJCC to respond to the BTC or the appropriate hospital facility in Broward County to provide confidential emotional support, therapy services and forensic medical examinations to Detained Survivors. The MOU also makes provision for Detained Survivors to receive crisis intervention services, information, and referrals, confidential access to NJCC’s 24-hour Sexual Assault Helpline, follow-up services, and connection to an NJCC sexual assault advocate to accompany and support the Detained Survivors through the forensic medical examination process and investigatory interviews.

 

GEO operates the BTC, an immigration facility for short-term non-criminal and low-security detainees. The framework created by the MOU facilitates GEO’s compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act National Standards (“National Standards”), Part 115 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as required by the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003. The National Standards require that jail facilities provide inmates victimized by sexual abuse with timely, unimpeded access to emergency medical treatment, forensic medical examinations, and crisis intervention services where medically or evidentiarily appropriate.

 

GEO will pay Broward County for the initial forensic medical examination of a Detained Survivor performed by a sexual assault nurse examiner at the cost of $1,000 or the rate established by Florida Statutes, whichever is higher, and $130 for each unit of therapy (one unit of therapy is approximately 45-50 minutes).

 

The MOU has been approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. A copy of the MOU is attached as Exhibit 1.

 

Source of Additional Information

Carol Cook, Director, Crisis Intervention and Support Division, 954-357-9590

Ana Ferrer, Human Services Administrator, Nancy J. Cotterman Center, 954-357-5765

 

Fiscal Impact

Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary

Broward County will be reimbursed by GEO at a rate of $1,000 or the rate established by Florida Statutes, whichever is higher, for the initial forensic medical examination and at a rate of $130 for each unit of therapy provided to a Detained Survivor.