Number
071332
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALDS. DONOVAN & WADE
Title
Substitute resolution seeking continuation of financial support from the state and federal government for continued implementation of the Milwaukee Community Prosecution program and directing the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to pursue legislative and administrative support.
Analysis
The Community Prosecution program, begun in 2002 under the leadership of the Milwaukee County District Attorney, was expanded in 2005 and now involves a collaboration of agencies and programs addressing neighborhood crime prevention, restorative justice and nuisance abatement. The collaboration is led by a partnership that includes the City Attorney’s Office together with the Office of the Milwaukee County District Attorney. Three Assistant City Attorneys and 6 Assistant District Attorneys provide complementary enforcement of City ordinances and state law. The Assistant District Attorneys assigned to Community Prosecution are funded largely through federal grants from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance receives a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the U. S. Bureau of Justice Assistance and distributes these funds to a variety of statewide and local programs including Assistant District Attorneys assigned to Community Prosecution.
The next application for JAG funding must be submitted by January 31, 2008. The funding available for allocation to states in 2008 has been reduced by 67%. The allocation to Wisconsin is expected to be reduced by $4.1 million resulting in significant cutbacks in programs that include victim and witness services, drug and other crime enforcement, and a reduction or complete loss of Assistant District Attorney services in the City’s Community Prosecution program.
This loss of prosecution services is potentially exacerbated by the statewide shortage of prosecutors identified by the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau this past summer. The Audit Bureau found a shortage of 117 full time positions.
This resolution requests members of Congress and the Wisconsin Legislature to restore and maintain federal and state support for local law enforcement and prosecution efforts that include the Milwaukee Community Prosecution program. The resolution further urges legislators and administrative agencies to establish secure funding streams for Community Prosecution programs. The resolution directs the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to seek action at the state and federal levels restore, maintain and expand resources to support the Milwaukee Community Prosecution program. The resolution recognizes the nationwide implications of reduced funding for prosecution and crime prevention activities and authorizes appropriate representatives to act in concert with other cities and municipalities through organizations such as the National League of Cities to restore and maintain sufficient federal funding to assure effective law enforcement, prevention and prosecution activities at state and municipal levels.
Body
Whereas, The Community Prosecution Program initiated in 2005 with the leadership of the Office of the City Attorney has developed a successful partnership with community agencies, City departments including the Milwaukee Police Department and the Department of Neighborhood Services, together with the Office of the Milwaukee County District Attorney; and
Whereas, The efforts of 3 Assistant City Attorneys in nuisance abatement has resulted in rehabilitation or razing of 85% of more than 300 referred board-up and nuisance properties, implementation of a program to target known drug houses, and expansion of the injunction against prostitution; and
Whereas, The City’s efforts in the Community Prosecution Program have been complemented by the involvement of 6 Assistant District Attorneys, pursuing drug and other criminal law violations, restorative justice, and other enforcement activities to make City neighborhoods safer; and
Whereas, The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program of the U.S. Office of Justice Assistance combined the Byrne Memorial Grant and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) programs in 2005 providing financial support to state and local programs in areas of law enforcement, prosecution and court programming, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections programs, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, and technology improvement, and crime victim and witness programming; and
Whereas, The Federal 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes a 67% cut in JAG funding; and
Whereas, The Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance reports that the JAG funding allocation to the State of Wisconsin will be reduced by $4.1 million, from $6.5 million in the current fiscal year to $2.4 million in the next fiscal year, resulting in significant reductions in resources for drug task forces, local law enforcement programs, crime victim and witness services, and local prosecution; and
Whereas, An evaluation of the allocation of prosecutor positions conducted by the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau and released in July of 2007 found that a decline in staffing levels and an increase in caseloads have resulted in a statewide need for 117 additional prosecutors, including an estimated need for 4 additional prosecutors in the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office; and
Whereas, Reliance upon federal grant funding leaves effective local law enforcement and prosecution efforts at risk of reduction or elimination; and
Whereas, Strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance requires sustained national support for effective law enforcement, crime prevention and prosecution activities to maintain public health, safety and welfare; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Wisconsin delegation to Congress, and all Wisconsin legislators, the Governor, the Attorney Generals of the United States and of Wisconsin, and the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, are urged to assure that funding is restored for local enforcement and prosecution efforts, and especially the Milwaukee Community Prosecution Program; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Wisconsin delegation to Congress, and all Wisconsin legislators, the Governor, the Attorney Generals of the United States and of Wisconsin, and the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, are urged to assure that permanent and secure funding streams are established to assure the continued implementation, and expansion where appropriate, of local law enforcement efforts such as Community Prosecution; and, be it
Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be provided to the Wisconsin delegation to Congress, and all Wisconsin legislators, the Governor, the Attorney Generals of the United States and of Wisconsin, and the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance: and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration is directed to seek legislative and administrative action at the state and federal levels, to assure restoration, continuation and expansion, where appropriate, of funding support for local enforcement and prosecution activities and programs such as the Milwaukee Community Prosecution program: and, be it
Further Resolved, That all appropriate representatives of the City are authorized to act in concert with other cities and municipalities, and with associations such as the National League of Cities, to seek restoration and maintenance of sufficient federal funding to assure that states and municipalities may implement and maintain effective law enforcement, crime prevention and prosecution programs and activities.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB08020-2
RLW
1/15/2008