DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City wide
SUBJECT:
2019 Supporting Victims of Gang Violence Grant Program Acceptance
SUMMARY:
Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of grant funds not to exceed $320,000.00 for the 2019 Supporting Victims of Gang Violence Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) for strengthening community capacity to stem violence, reduce youth offending and victimization, improve responses to children’s exposure to violence, and enhance public safety. This ordinance authorizes a personnel complement of two (2) full time positions. The grant period is from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The grant application was authorized by a Special Category Grant Opportunity Submission Authorization Request dated June 10, 2019 and the application was submitted to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) on June 10, 2019. The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) was notified on September 26, 2019, that it had been awarded the FY 2019 Supporting Victims of Gang Violence Grant Program in the amount of $320,000.00.
The 2019 Supporting Victims of Gang Violence Grant Program object is to strengthen community capacity to stem violence, reduce youth offending and victimization, improve responses to children’s exposure to violence, and enhance public safety while expanding and enhancing capabilities of the Community Engagement Program within the SAPD Homicide Unit to respond to and support youth victims of gang violence.
Proposed grant-funded positions include the addition of two Outreach Workers (Violence Prevention Advocates) to the Community Engagement Program that will work collaboratively with community-based partners, provide resources to victims and families, and mediate gang conflicts to prevent retaliation. The grant will also support collaborative community engagement events in areas of high gang activity.
ISSUE:
This ordinance continues City Council's policy of seeking and accepting financial assistance for crime prevention and enforcement programs addressing violent crime and gang activity. The program from the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will enhance the City’s efforts in combating and reducing violent crime in San Antonio.
ALTERNATIVES:
This grant provides an opportunity to the City to expand efforts to address gang violence in our community and expanding our current Community Engagement Program efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Police Department to accept grant funding in an amount of $320,000.00 for the projected period of October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2022. This ordinance also authorizes personnel complement of two (2) full-time positions for the initial period to end September 30, 2022. This grant does not require an in-kind or cash match.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council approve the acceptance of the grant award. This approval will support the implementation goal for the Community Engagement Program while enhancing efforts to decrease violent crime in the San Antonio Metropolitan Area.