Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to appropriate $155,000 within the Franklin County Municipal Court for the purpose of funding positions related to probation services in the Domestic Violence Unit.
In 2016, the Franklin County Municipal Court (FCMC) made a commitment to become an evidence-based organization that follows the Risk, Needs and Responsivity Principle (RNR). The RNR principle tells the court who to target, what to target and to appropriately match offenders to programming as to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Department of Probation Services (DOPS) began a thorough review of the research and practices and began preparing for this paradigm shift. Part of the transition preparations included having the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) conduct a thorough review of evidence based practices.
The DOPS remains committed and enthused about the potential impact of its evidence-based approaches to the supervision of DV offenders. Research has demonstrated that evidence-based treatment approach can yield a sizeable impact on recidivism (up to 30% in some studies); however, this paradigm shift has presented additional demands and challenges for the unit.
In order to provide the most effective supervision for this population and engage in risk-reduction activities in a timely manner, it was necessary to reduce the time that each officer spends on the assessment function each week. In late 2017, Council passed Ordinance 2700-2017, which appropriated funds for additional personnel in the DVU that would allow for the appropriate level of supervision for the highest risk offenders. This ordinance will allow for the retention of those personnel so that DOPS may continue to conduct its evidence-based, risk reduction efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT: Total cost of the appropriation is $155,000.00 and is available in the 2019 budget within the Public Safety Initiative subfund, Fund 1000-100016.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested in order to immediately provide the Franklin County Municipal Court with the resources necessary to retain the additional personnel in the Domestic Violence Unit.
Title
To authorize an appropriation of $155,000.00 within the Public Safety Initiatives subfund to the Franklin County Municipal Court for the purpose of funding positions related to probation services in the Domestic Violence Unit; and to declare an emergency. ($155,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2016, the Franklin County Municipal Court made a commitment to become an evidence-based organization that follows the Risk, Needs and Responsivity Principle; and
WHEREAS, the Domestic Violence Unit conducted a thorough review of evidence based practices as they relate to the domestic violence population to identify an evidence-based, domestic violence specific risk tool that incorporates a differentiated supervision and programming response; and
WHEREAS, research has demonstrated that evidence-based treatment approach can yield a sizeable impact on recidivism; and
WHEREAS, in order to provide the most effective supervision for this population and engage in risk-reduction activities in a timely manner, it is necessary to reduce the time that each officer spends on the assessment function each week; and
WHEREAS, in order to provide the appropriate level of supervision to the highest risk defendants and to allow for an appropriately sized caseload, the retention of high risk supervision officers is necessary; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the city in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate resources to the Franklin County Municipal Court for the retention of this personnel in the Domestic Violence Unit, for the public health, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $155,000.00 in the Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016, to the Franklin County Municipal Court per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. 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 3. That for the reason stated in the preamble here to, 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.