DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
National Crime Statistics Exchange Implementation Assistance Program Grant Application
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of a grant application, and acceptance of funds upon award, not to exceed $87,978.00, from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) for the transition to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) as the standard reporting method of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program for the grant period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2018.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On June 9, 2015, Texas Governor Greg Abbot signed into law HB 11 which was enacted on September 1, 2015. Section 10, Subchapter D, Chapter 411, Government Code, was amended by adding Section 411.054. The law directed that Texas, as a whole, move to the NIBRS as the standard reporting method of the UCR program no later than September 1, 2019. The SAPD has determined that the Department will implement the NIBRS reporting format by January 2019. In order to meet the timeline, the SAPD must begin to customize its software and hardware, procure implementation and maintenance services, and obtain technical assistance to be NIBRS compliant for Texas requirements.
This ordinance will authorize the submission of a grant application, and acceptance of funds if awarded, and; 1) authorize the purchase of software, hardware, and labor that directly supports the Department’s technical capacity for collecting, processing and submitting NIBRS data and the labor and software costs for validation testing to ensure conformance; 2) authorize obtaining technical assistance for SAPD personnel responsible for managing the agency’s crime incident data, and; 3) authorize technical assistance to SAPD personnel in how to collect, input, process, and submit incident-based data in the agency system, and; 4) authorize establishing a budget.
ISSUE:
This ordinance continues City Council's policy of seeking and accepting financial assistance for improving the collection of crime data to provide specific, detailed information regarding crime, arrests, and identify crime trends.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could elect not to approve the application for the grant. This action would result in delaying the project and possibly funding the project entirely from the City’s General Fund. The rejection of the grant may negatively impact the City's ability and opportunity to timely procure, systems and services to provide the specific, detailed information regarding crime, arrests, and identifying crime trends.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If awarded, this grant will provide funding in an amount up to $87,978.00 for the projected period of October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2018. This grant does not require a city match.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council approve the grant application and acceptance upon award to comply with the law as presented in HB 11. This approval will support the implementation goal for NIBRS reporting.