...Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2024 Council Approved Budget to Accept and Appropriate the FY 2024 Operation Ceasefire Grant Program - Prosecutorial Services Awarded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this resolution is to accept and appropriate state grant funds to allow the Commonwealth's Attorney to advance efforts to prevent, intervene and provide enforcement of gun violence in the city of Hampton, Virginia.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is continuously dedicated to reducing violence and crime within the community. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is committed to addressing the epidemic of gun violence and other violent crime that has taken the lives of many individuals in the City of Hampton. Therefore, The Commonwealth’s Attorney Office is seeking funding to assist in further enhancement and support of Operation Ceasefire for the City of Hampton. According to Neighborhoodscout.com, the chances of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Hampton, Virginia is 1 in 37. Most of these individuals involved in violence are disconnected from social support, unemployed, not in school, and have been exposed to trauma - all significant risk factors for being a victim or perpetrator of gun violence. For example, a study that examined 500 African American youth in Hampton Roads, Virginia found that direct exposure to violence was the best predictor of whether an individual would later engage in gun-related crimes. .
Discussion:
The acceptance of this prosecution program will allow the Commonwealth's Attorney to establish two positions to enhance and support the Operation Ceasefire-CAVIAR program. The two new positions will be a Victim Witness Specialist and an Investigator. This expanded team will collaborate with the existing Operation Ceasefire Program Coordinator and will further the overarching goal of decreasing violent crime in the city of Hampton. The project will provide community engagement, intelligence gathering, offender communication, victim support, resource allocation, and public awareness.
Impact:
This grant award will help support the mission of the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office by expanding resources to create alternatives to reduce gun violence in the community. For the current fiscal year, the City has been awarded state funds in the amount of $487,870. There is no local cash or in-kind match required; The Victim Witness Specialist and Investigator will adhere to the City's Human Resources employment policies and performance evaluation process.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Criminal Justice Services has awarded the City of Hampton, Virginia (the "City") a 2024 Operation Ceasefire Grant-Prosecutorial Services in the amount of $487,870.00 in state funds;
WHEREAS, the Operation Ceasefire Grant Prosecutorial Services award requires no cash match;
WHEREAS, the funds of the Ceasefire Grant Prosecutorial Services will be used by the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to fund two positions dedicated to ensuring that each component of Operation Ceasefire will be planned, implemented, and executed with successful outcomes within the City, and
WHEREAS, the grant award is for the period from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2024 Council Approved Budget to (1) accept and appropriate the Operation Ceasefire Grant Prosecutorial Services in the amount of $487,870 in State funds, and any supplemental funding, awarded by the Department of Criminal Justice Services to the Grant Fund.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all actions necessary to implement this grant award.