TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an Expectations Agreement with the Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center of the U.S. Department of Justice, to provide technical assistance to the Department of Development Services, in support of the Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan Data Sharing Strategy. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On May 13, 2014, the City Council approved the adoption of the Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan (Safe Long Beach). At the direction of President Obama, the Departments of Justice and Education launched the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (Forum) to begin a national conversation concerning youth and gang violence and prevention, raise awareness, and elevate the issue to national significance. On November 11, 2014, the City Council formally accepted the Forum grant of $20,000 and its designation. To further existing Forum efforts, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is supporting localities presently implementing the Forum with additional funding and technical support to enhance efforts to adopt practices and implement models to achieve violence prevention objectives. To this end, OJJDP recently awarded the City of Long Beach with two new grants: the FY 2015 Youth Violence Prevention Enhancement Project in the amount of $250,000 and the FY 2015 State and Community Development Award in the amount of $279,000. These awards were accepted by the City Council on November 3, 2015.
In addition to these grants, OJJDP is offering cost-free technical assistance to Safe Long Beach through the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Diagnostic Center. The OJP launched a Diagnostic Center in spring 2012 to serve as a technical assistance resource for State, local and tribal policymakers seeking to implement data-driven strategies to combat crime and improve public safety in their communities. The defining characteristic of the Diagnostic Center is its approach to being smart on crime by helping State and local leaders use local data to apply what works in criminal justice in their communities. This effort ensures that limited local resources are invested wisely, federal assets are leveraged where they are needed most, and communities reap better public safety outcomes.
This technical assistance is intended to help identify, implement, and assess data-driven solutions to combat crime, improve public safety, and enhance community-police relations. The Expectations Agreement outlines roles and responsibilities for the OJP Diagnostic Center, including assessment of public safety issues; stakeholder engagement; collaboration with DOJ partners; recommendations for data driven practices and evidence-based models; identification of training, expertise and guidance; and adherence to confidentiality. Roles and responsibilities for Safe Long Beach staff in the Department of Development Services include identification of appropriate data and stakeholders; regular communication with OJP, providing feedback on diagnostic analysis; decision making as to whether or how to implement recommendations; and providing updates on implementation progress.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Vu on November 23, 2015, and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on November 24, 2015.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on December 15, 2015, to allow timely implementation of the technical assistance package.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no fiscal or local job impact as a result of the recommended action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER