Fiscal Note
The annual cost of the LEAP program is estimated at $57,000. This program will be implemented in June 2013 and continue through 2014 only if additional revenue (e.g., grants or donations) or savings of about $33,250 is identified; no additional appropriation is required. If the program begins in 2013, this resolution states that the 2014 Operating Budget should include funding to continue the program for 2014.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Funding Law Enforcement Advocate Partnership (LEAP) for 2013.
Body
WHEREAS, Domestic Violence continues to be an issue that affects all residents of Madison and Dane County, including a recent homicide/suicide, and;
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department (MPD) is often a first responder to domestic violence calls and is frequently engaged in resolving domestic violence situations, and;
WHEREAS, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, Inc. (DAIS) is a critical community services agency that provides Madison and Dane County resident education and training, crisis information, emergency shelter, and support groups, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Madison Police Department files over 1,300 criminal charges with the Dane County District Attorney's Office related to the investigation of domestic violence, and;
WHEREAS, in 2011 through a Justice Accountability Grant (JAG) a pilot project called Law Enforcement Advocate Partnership (LEAP) was created with the Madison Police South District and DAIS designed to support victims of domestic violence by creating a mechanism that Police Officers make a referral to DAIS and a staff member follows-up directly with the victim, and;
WHEREAS, this partnership generated 126 referrals based upon a very specifically designed criteria, which 52 had successful follow-up contacts, and;
WHEREAS, 59% of victims contacted and surveyed reported they were not previously aware of DAIS and its services, and;
WHEREAS, the victims also received additional information about actions the police took, decreasing negative impressions of police officers, police and the criminal process thereby increasing the likelihood that victims will contact Police if there is additional need, and;
WHEREAS, the LEAP program ended in March 2012 because of the termination of the JAG funding, and;
WHEREAS, the full implementation of the program throughout Madison in all five Police Districts would be estimated to cost $57,000 for a full-time DAIS staff member salary and benefits, program materials and law enforcement first responder training,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor's Office, Madison Police Department and Office of Community Services are committed to exploring additional revenue such as grants or donations or determine if there are savings that can be used to support the creation of a city-wide partnership between DAIS and MPD in all police districts supporting all residents in the City of Madison beginning in June 2013 and continuing through 2014,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Madison Police Department and DAIS will review the referral protocol to see if protocols can be modified to reach more victims of domestic abuse,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that Mayor's Office and the Finance Department should include sufficient funding in the 2014 Operating Budget to continue the LEAP program city staff invite Domestic Abuse Intervention Services to apply for continuing funding for this program in the next Community Development Division funding process currently scheduled for 2014 for fiscal year 2015.