TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Prosecutor to execute all necessary documents to receive and expend grant funding awarded to the City Prosecutor by the Long Beach Community Foundation in an amount not to exceed $10,000, and increase appropriation in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the City Prosecutor Department (CP) by $10,000, offset by grant revenue.
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Community Foundation (LBCF) has approved a $10,000 grant to the Office of the City Prosecutor to assist the office with its gang prevention, crime reduction, and neighborhood improvement efforts. By approving this agenda item, the City will be able to accept the funds and use the funds for a range of activities supporting the work of the City Prosecutor's Office. The specific focus of these funds shall be: 1) to support the City Prosecutor's Parent Accountability and Chronic Truancy (P.A.C.T.) program, and 2) to assist human trafficking victims and former gang members with tattoo removal.
In recent years, the Long Beach City Prosecutor's Office has found ways to expand its role as a public safety partner while continuing its core mission of prosecuting criminals. For example, the City Prosecutor's Office initiated just two years ago the creative court diversion program called Promising Adults, Tomorrow's Hope (P.A.T.H.). P.A.T.H. is believed to be the first job-based diversion program in the country.
The City Prosecutor's Office is also recognized as a leader in other respects. In 2013, the City Prosecutor's Gang Prevention Strategy was recognized by Neighborhoods USA for its work with at risk youth. During the presentation of the award at Neighborhoods USA's annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the
Gang Prevention Strategy was described as follows:
"In Long Beach, police and prosecutors have developed a three-part
strategy that suppresses gang violence, creates community
partnerships, and keeps at-risk kids in school. Combining new
technology with a neighborhood-based approach, the Gang
Prevention Strategy could become a model for prosecutors across
the nation."
In addition to gang prosecutions, the City Prosecutor works with the Police Department, Long Beach Unified School District, and community groups on gang prevention and anti-truancy programs. The Parent Accountability and Chronic Truancy (P.A.C.T.) Program is now in its seventh year and has improved class attendance by over 30 percent in some youth considered at-risk for dropping out of school.
The City Prosecutor's diversion programs and crime prevention efforts are designed to reduce crime in the long term, save taxpayers money, and reduce court congestion. For example, the CSW program alone has saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past several years, while beautifying and improving city beaches, wetlands, parks, streets and other public areas.
This grant is critical to supporting the City Prosecutor's Office in a number of its efforts, including tattoo removal for human trafficking victims and former gang members. By utilizing private nonprofit funds, the Office of the City Prosecutor can augment its efforts without directly using city funds. The City Prosecutor's Office has worked with the LBCF to help raise funds over the past year, and will continue to work with them to further utilize private sources to reduce crime in Long Beach.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
This adjustment to the FY 2018 budget is requested to reflect the acceptance of this grant award. City Council action is requested no later than July 17, 2018, so that funds can be used starting immediately.
FISCAL IMPACT
This grant is currently unbudgeted. An appropriation increase, offset by grant revenue, is requested in the amount of $10,000 in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the City Prosecutor Department (CP). The grant has no match requirement.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
DOUGLAS P. HAUBERT
CITY PROSECUTOR