(a) There is established an Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement ("ONSE"). The ONSE shall include the following programs:
(1) The Family and Survivor Support Services Program, which shall be transferred to the ONSE from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, along with all functions assigned, authorities delegated, positions, personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds available or to be made available for the purposes of the program;
(2) The Safer, Stronger DC Community Partnerships Program, which shall be transferred to the ONSE from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, along with all functions assigned, authorities delegated, positions, personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds available or to be made available for the purposes of the program;
(3) A portion of the Roving Leaders Program, as determined by the Mayor, which shall be transferred to the ONSE from the Department of Parks and Recreation, along with all functions assigned, authorities delegated, positions, personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds available or to be made available for the purposes of the portion of the program transferred; and
(4) The Restorative Justice Collaborative, which shall serve as a centralized hub to coordinate and foster restorative justice programming and practices within the District government and by and in partnership with District community-based organizations.
(b) The ONSE shall be responsible for:
(1) Coordinating the District's overall violence prevention strategy and programs, with a focus on utilizing public health approaches to respond to and prevent violence;
(2) Identifying, recruiting, and engaging individuals determined to be at high risk of participating in, or being a victim of, violent crime;
(3) Collaborating with other District agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide immediate wrap-around services to victims and families affected by violent crime;
(4) Identifying priority neighborhoods and Metropolitan Police Department Police Service Areas ("PSAs") with high trends of violent crime and connecting residents in those neighborhoods and PSAs to services through a streamlined approach;
(5) Developing positive relationships with youth and young adults using recreational and other positive behavior reinforcement activities;
(6) Coordinating with District agencies and community-based organizations to develop programs that focus on employment and job-training opportunities for individuals residing in priority neighborhoods or PSAs or who are most at risk of participating in, or being a victim of, violent crime, including through the use of financial incentives for participation; and
(7) Coordinating and fostering restorative justice programming and practices within the District government and by and in partnership with District community-based organizations, with a focus on the 18-to-35-year old population.
(c) The ONSE shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall report to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice. The Executive Director shall have at least 3 years of relevant experience in criminal justice and public health-based approaches to violence, including matters affecting the deterrence of violent criminal behavior.
(d) Beginning on January 31, 2018, and by January 31 of each year thereafter, the ONSE shall provide a report to the Mayor and Council that excludes personally identifiable information and includes the following information, by cohort, from the reporting period and in the aggregate:
(1) The number of individuals successfully recruited and engaged;
(2) The duration of individuals' participation, and for those individuals who did not remain in the program for the entirety of its duration, the reasons for their separation;
(3) The status of participants' progress, including whether they are employed in subsidized or unsubsidized employment and any certifications or diplomas they have obtained while participating in the program;
(4) The participants' age, race or ethnicity, gender, and ward of residence; and
(5) Whether any participant has been arrested or convicted during or following their participation, and for what offense or offenses.
(e) The ONSE may apply for and receive grants and accept private donations to fund its program activities.
(f) The ONSE shall have grant-making authority for the purpose of providing funds that seek to reduce and prevent violent crime. Grants made pursuant to this subsection shall be administered pursuant to the requirements set forth in part B of subchapter XII-A of Chapter 3 of Title 1.
(g) Agency funds may be used to purchase food and non-alcoholic beverages for participants in ONSE's programs and activities, including violence prevention programs, short-term assistance programs, retreats, community outreach activities and events, individual outreach activities such as program recruitment, and training and education activities for community members, where the purchase is reasonably necessary to assist ONSE in the effective achievement of a statutory goal, objective, or responsibility.
(June 30, 2016, D.C. Law 21-125, § 101, 63 DCR 4659; Dec. 13, 2017, D.C. Law 22-33, § 3032(a), 64 DCR 7652; Oct. 30, 2018, D.C. Law 22-168, § 3032(a), 65 DCR 9388; Sept. 11, 2019, D.C. Law 23-16, § 3042(a), 66 DCR 8621; Dec. 3, 2020, D.C. Law 23-149, § 3012(a), 67 DCR 10493.)
ApplicabilitySection 7014 of D.C. Law 22-33 repealed § 901 of D.C. Law 21-125. Therefore the changes made to this section by D.C. Law 21-125 have been implemented.
Applicability of D.C. Law 21-125: § 901 of D.C. Law 21-125 provided that the change made to this section by § 101 of D.C. Law 21-125 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.
Emergency LegislationFor temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3042(a) of Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-112, Sept. 4, 2019, 66 DCR 11964).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3042(a) of Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-91, July 22, 2019, 66 DCR 8497).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3032(a) of Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-458, Oct. 3, 2018, 65 DCR 11212).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3032(a) of Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-434, July 30, 2018, 65 DCR 8200).
For temporary (90 days) repeal of § 901 of D.C. Law 21-125, see § 7014 of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-167, Oct. 24, 2017, 64 DCR 10802).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3032(a) of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-167, Oct. 24, 2017, 64 DCR 10802).
For temporary (90 days) repeal of § 901 of D.C. Law 21-125, see § 7014 of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-104, July 20, 2017, 64 DCR 7032).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3032(a) of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-104, July 20, 2017, 64 DCR 7032).