Fiscal Note
This resolution would, in 2013, resume implementation of the Law Enforcement Advocate Partnership (LEAP) Program within the pilot project area in Madison's South Police District and expand it into the City's North Police District. It redirects $30,000 of $72,000, which was provided in the Community Development Division's 2013 budget for a north-side shared space initiative, for use to resume LEAP and expand it into the City's North Police District. The program is expected to be implemented city-wide in 2014 at an estimated annual cost of about $60,000, which would need to be included in the 2014 budget and accommodated under City levy constraints imposed by the State, subject to Common Council approval.
The 2013 operating budgets of CDD will be amended as follows:
($30,000) GN01-54902-270000 Professional Lease
$30,000 GN01-54920-273100 Community Agency Contracts
Title
Funding Law Enforcement Advocate Partnership (LEAP) for 2013 and amending the 2013 operating budget of the Community Development Division to allocate an additional $30,000 to Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS).
Body
WHEREAS, Domestic Violence continues to be an issue that affects many residents of Madison and Dane County, and was a factor in a recent homicide/suicide in the City, 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 education and training, crisis information, emergency shelter and support groups to persons in Madison and Dane County affected by domestic violence, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Madison Police Department has filed more than 1,300 criminal charges with the Dane County District Attorney's Office related to the investigation of domestic violence, and;
WHEREAS, Domestic Violence affects Madison residents across all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, English speaking and non English speaking residents alike, and
WHEREAS, in 2011 a new initiative, the Law Enforcement Advocate Partnership (LEAP) was piloted with help from a one-time a Justice Accountability Grant (JAG), which supported efforts between the Madison Police Department's South District and DAIS to improve the system through which law enforcement personnel connect victims of domestic violence with available services from DAIS, and;
WHEREAS, this partnership showed a demonstrable improvement in the rate of successful referrals and follow-up contacts with victims of domestic violence, and persons who reported they were not previously aware of DAIS and its services, and;
WHEREAS, the initiative also proved effective in helping educate participants about the role of law enforcement in domestic violence incidents, reducing negative perceptions of police officers and the criminal process and increasing the likelihood that victims of domestic violence would contact police if future situations arose, and;
WHEREAS, despite its successes, the LEAP Program has not been operational since the expiration of JAG funding in March 2012, and;
WHEREAS, DAIS and the Madison Police Department see continued benefits to the City and its residents if LEAP was to be implemented city-wide, and
WHEREAS, there are funds available within the 2013 Community Development Division budget that were intended to establish a north side shared office space (a project that will not move forward) and,
WHEREAS, the cost to operate the LEAP program throughout the City of Madison and across all five Police Districts is estimated at $60,000 annually and includes expenses needed to provide first responder training for law enforcement personnel, and support DAIS staff and other program expenses,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council supports the use of $30,000 from the 2013 Community Development Division budget, a portion of the $72,000 provided in the budget to support acquisition of north-side shared office space, to resume implementation of the LEAP Program through the City's South Madison Police District and expand it into the North Madison Police District, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 2013 operating budget of the Community Development Division be amended allocate an additional $30,000 to DAIS; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City is committed to extending the benefits of LEAP to all Madison residents in 2014 and beyond through the MPD budget.