Number
201510
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
180898
Sponsor
ALD. COGGS, JOHNSON, AND DODD
Title
Resolution directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of state and federal legislation implementing a Purple Alert system for victims of domestic violence.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of state and federal legislation to implement a Purple Alert system for victims of domestic violence.
Body
Whereas, On December 7, 2020, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution requesting implementation of a Purple Alert system for victims of domestic violence; and
Whereas, The National Domestic Violence Hotline defines domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, or relationship abuse) as a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship; and
Whereas, The range of behaviors that encompasses domestic violence includes physical violence, sexual violence, coercion and threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, minimizing, denying, and blaming, using power dynamic privilege and economic abuse, and using children as a tool to carry out any of these behaviors; and
Whereas, Domestic violence presents ongoing danger because victims often experience fear, belief that abusive behavior is normal, embarrassment or shame, cultural or religious barriers to escape, immigration status complications, lack of financial freedom, and other difficulties with ending the relationship; and
Whereas, The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that domestic violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime and the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of death by 500 percent; and
Whereas, In a May 2020 article, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Milwaukee has seen a dramatic increase in homicides this year and, as of May 2020, there were 56 victims compared to 26 victims by the same time the previous year; and
Whereas, More than 40 percent of homicides in 2020 were related to domestic or family violence; and
Whereas, The HOPE Domestic Violence Homicide Help website details a stark increase in incidents of domestic violence throughout Wisconsin, with average annual deaths at 77 and increasing; and
Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic is one factor contributing to an increase in incidents of domestic violence due to isolation in homes with abusers, increased unemployment, and increased stress and anxiety; and
Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic has prevented the deployment of certain services to assist victims, including home visits; and
Whereas, Home visits are critical because they provide a personal, human connection to a potential victim without the fear of arrest or eviction; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee partners with other municipal governments, including Milwaukee County, to provide essential services to victims of domestic violence and to help lower the homicide rate related to domestic violence; and
Whereas, Law enforcement agencies across the United States employ alert systems to notify the public about timely, important information, including AMBER Alerts for missing or endangered children and Silver Alerts for missing or endangered elderly individuals; and
Whereas, The State of Wisconsin was the first state to introduce a Green Alert for missing or endangered veterans; and
Whereas, A Purple Alert system for missing or endangered victims of domestic violence, including those who have restraining orders against their abusers, would assist in notifying the public to these emergencies; and
Whereas, A Purple Alert system would decrease the amount of time one must wait to file a missing person’s report for someone who has been a victim of domestic violence; and
Whereas, There are currently no states that employ a Purple Alert system for missing or endangered victims of domestic violence and the State of Wisconsin would benefit from this type of notification system; and
Whereas, Domestic violence is a community issue that has no bounds and affects all states, counties, cities, towns, and villages across the United States, making a Purple Alert suitable for federal legislation; and
Whereas, Privacy concerns are a necessary element to balance in drafting legislation implementing a Purple Alert system; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to seek introduction and passage of state legislation to implement a Purple Alert system for victims of domestic violence; and, be it
Further Resolved, That File Number 180898 is amended by inserting the following item in the document attached to the file and identified as “AMENDED 2019-2020 State Legislative Detailed Proposals and Key Issues”:
|
Health & Safety |
Common Council |
Implement a Purple Alert system for victims of domestic violence. |
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to seek introduction and passage of federal legislation to implement a Purple Alert system for victims of domestic violence; and, be it
Further Resolved, That legislation implementing a Purple Alert system shall include appropriate balancing of privacy concerns related to identifying victims of domestic violence; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to Milwaukee’s representatives in the State Legislature and the City’s Congressional delegation.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 176491-1
Tea B. Norfolk
12/16/2020