Explanation
Research shows that women who experience non-fatal strangulation with an intimate partner are seven times more likely to be killed by that partner. On April 4, 2023, Ohio adopted legislation making strangulation of an intimate partner or household member a felony crime (Ohio Senate Bill 288). Charging these high-risk cases as felonies allows the system to hold dangerous offenders accountable while also creating opportunities for victims to understand the seriousness of their situations and link with the resources needed to interrupt cycles of violence--violence interrupters that will save lives.
The City of Columbus received a United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), 2023 Improving Criminal Justice Response (ICJR) program grant. This ordinance accepts and appropriates $800,000 in ICJR funds. This funding enhances and expands justice services and programs implemented through the City of Columbus and Franklin County Blueprint for Safety: Interagency Response to Domestic Violence initiative by creating a Domestic Violence Strangulation Task Force.
The Strangulation Task Force is a working committee of the Blueprint for Safety team and will focus on effective implementation of Ohio Senate Bill 288. Task force members include city and county prosecutors, detectives, patrol officers, judge(s), advocates and forensic nurses. The group will guide the development of response directives that promote flawless implementation of the law and rock-solid evidence collection, so cases can move forward with or without victim engagement. The group will also bring in experts to train justice processionals on the immediate and lasting impact of strangulation on the brain and body and how to use trauma informed techniques to help victims feel safe, trusted and able to share details of, often horrific, crimes in a supportive/non-triggering manner.
Through the three year award period, the group will produce and implement model response directives and training curriculum; present staffing solutions to accommodate increased caseloads for police detectives and prosecutors; and create consistent access to advocacy service for felony victims at municipal court arraignment. Funding will go to the Columbus City Attorney’s Office and the Columbus Division of Police for staffing, training and equipment investments increasing their capacity for sustainable response.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the acceptance and appropriation of $800,000 in OVW 2023 Improving Criminal Justice Response funding from the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. This initiative does not generate any revenue nor require a City match.
Federal Grant Program: OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Improving Criminal Justice Response
§ Award number: 15JOVW-23-GG-02598-ICJR
§ Award amount: $800,000
§ Match requirement: None
§ Award period: October 1st, 2023 through September 30th, 2026
EMERGENCY ACTION: This ordinance is submitted as an emergency as to not delay access to grant funds to cover material purchases and staff expenses required to achieve goals and objectives as outline in the federal grant contract.
Title
To authorize the Mayor to accept an $800,000.00 Improving Criminal Justice Response program grant from the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women; to appropriate award funds to the Columbus City Attorney and Columbus Division of Police supporting the work of the inter-agency Domestic Violence Strangulation Task Force and Strangulation Response Team; to authorize the appropriation of $800,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grants Fund 2220; and to declare an emergency. ($800,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women awarded the City of Columbus an $800,000, 2023 Improving Criminal Justice Response program grant; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these grant funds from the United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women to create Domestic Violence Strangulation Task Force; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor desires to accept this grant funding and appropriate award funds to the Columbus City Attorney and Columbus Division of Police to fulfill grant requirements; and
WHEREAS, the award period is October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to accept the award and appropriate award funds as to not delay material purchases and staffing investments required to achieve the goals and objectives as outlined in the federal grant contract, all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor is hereby authorized to accept $800,000.00 in grant funding from the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, 2023 Improving Criminal Justice Response program to create and operate a Domestic Violence Strangulation Task Force from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grants Fund No. 2220, the sum of $800,000.00 is hereby appropriated to Columbus City Attorney (Division Code 2401) and Columbus Division of Police (Division Code 3003) according to the attached accounting document for the budget period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026 (final fiscal reports are due 90 days after the end of the formal grant period).
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the City departments named above and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies, if applicable, may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originate in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.