DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: Cure Violence Grant
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the designation of the Authorized Official (AO) and providing specific required language for the Cure Violence Grant from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division. City Ordinance No. 2014-05-15-0334, dated May 15, 2014, authorized the acceptance of an invitation only grant award in the amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division for exploration, training, and a personnel compliment to support the Cure Violence Project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On February 28, 2014, the San Antonio Police Department applied for the Cure Violence Initiative grant from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division (CJD). City Ordinance No. 2014-05-15-0334, dated May 15, 2014, authorized the acceptance of an invitation only grant award in the amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 an initial award amount of $977,372.00 was received April 7, 2014 for the first 19 months of the project.
The City of San Antonio is required to specify the grant's designated Authorized Official as the Chief of Police and must contain specific language "In the event of loss or misuse of CJD funds, the City of San Antonio agrees to return all funds to CJD." This ordinance request adds this language as required by the Texas Administrative Code, Subchapter D, Section 3.2021.
Cure Violence, formerly known as CeaseFire, approaches violence as a disease that can be stopped using the same science-based strategies used to fight infectious diseases. By employing an evidence-based public health approach to violence prevention, Cure Violence trains carefully selected members of the community, trusted insiders, to anticipate where violence may occur and to intervene before it occurs. This model engages the entire community to change behavior and recognize that violence is unacceptable and that there are other solutions to resolving conflict.
SAMHD program staff will engage individuals at risk of involvement in a shooting or killing in order to prevent such violence from occurring. To do so, outreach workers must become familiar with their assigned neighborhoods and are trained to intervene with high risk individuals. Since those most at risk are less likely to seek assistance from Police, outreach workers meet and work with those they assist in non-traditional settings such as parks and street corners during non-traditional hours when local data indicate violence is most likely to occur.
ISSUE:
The proposed ordinance continues City Council's policy of seeking intergovernmental financial assistance for City crime prevention and enforcement programs addressing violent crime and gang activity. The program from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division (CJD) will enhance the City's efforts in combating and reducing violent crime in San Antonio.
Outreach workers will be challenged to build trust with high risk individuals in order to influence their behavior and to redirect them to positive pursuits including jobs, job training, and returning to school.
ALTERNATIVES:
Current fiscal restrictions limit the City in employing an evidenced-based public health approach program for violence prevention. City Council can choose not to accept the grant award not to exceed $2,000,000.00. However, Cure Violence trains carefully selected members of the community, trusted insiders, to anticipate where violence may occur and intervene before it does. This program will not be supported in the event authorization is not granted.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the designation of the Authorized Official for the Cure Violence Grant from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division. Funding for this grant in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 has already been authorized by City Ordinance No. 2014-05-15-0334, dated May 15, 2014.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance in order to meet the requirement of the State to receive funding for this program.