TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents, including any amendments, to receive and expend grant funding from Downtown Long Beach Associates in the amount of $18,000 for a period ending December 31, 2017; and increase appropriation in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the City Prosecutor Department (CP) by $18,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Two years ago, the City Prosecutor’s Office and the Downtown Long Beach Associates (now named Downtown Long Beach Alliance) initiated a pilot program for a Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor. This agenda item, if approved by the City Council, would provide for a continuation of the Neighborhood Impact Prosecutor program.
The Long Beach City Prosecutor handles all misdemeanor violations of state and local law arising within the City, including Downtown Long Beach. Among the crimes prosecuted by the City Prosecutor are petty theft, battery, vandalism, drug possession, gang court order violations, code enforcement, chronic truancy, drinking in public, camping in parks, trespass, loitering, and disorderly conduct.
From 2000-2009, the City Prosecutor’s Office had various “Community Prosecution” programs designed to reduce crime in specific areas of the City that might benefit from special case handling. In general, the concept of Community Prosecution is complementary to Community Policing. Both Community Prosecution and Community Policing have been shown to empower residential groups wishing to reduce crime in their neighborhood, increase community awareness of crime trends, and help coordinate public safety responses to blighted properties. As a result of budget cuts and loss of grant funding several years ago, all community prosecution programs in Long Beach were eliminated.
The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DLBA) is a nonprofit organization serving the tenants and commercial and residential property owners located in the Downtown Long Beach Business Improvement Distri...
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