DHS Parolee Proposals

The DHS Parolee Ad Hoc Committee met for the final time last night and has offered these proposals:

1. Revisions to zoning ordinances that would be used to restrict "parolee/probationer homes that house two to six people." Such homes would not be allowed within 660 feet of "existing or proposed schools, childcare facilities, parks, religious institutions, youth facilities, hotels and spas." And they would have to be at least 1,320 feet from any other such house.
   
   
2. A Residential Multi-Service Center in Desert Hot Springs that would "provide services for homeless parolees such as housing, drug counseling and job training for a maximum of one year, plus a 90-day aftercare program." This would be funded by the Department of Corrections.
   
   
3. Create a committee made up of representatives from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilition, the Desert Hot Springs Police Department, Palm Springs Unified School District and College of the Desert and the community. The committee would be a "Pre-Parole Planning Team that would work with prison counselors up to 270 days before an inmate's release from prison."
   
   
4. And finally, get an allocation of $25,000 to lobby Sacramento for the following changes to the law:
   1. Require parolees to return to their home CITY. Currently, they are required to return to their home county, but can choose any city within that county.
   2. Develop a per-capita limit on the number of parolees in any city.
   3. Give police on-line access to Department of Corrections parole records.

All of these are proposals that would require approval by the city council before moving ahead. They should be on the agenda starting in August.