Sponsor: Sheriff's Office
Title
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Grant Agreements with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for Community Crime Prevention Programs
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant applications to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, for Community Crime Intervention and Prevention Programs.
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with Minnesota Department of Public Safety for community-based programing for crime prevention services for communities most impacted by violence, for the period of May 14, 2024 to December 31, 2025 in the amount of $250,000.
3. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with Minnesota Department of Public Safety for community-based programing for crime prevention services, including community outreach, for the period of May 14, 2024 to December 31, 2025 in the amount of $425,000.
4. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreements.
5. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreement and execute amendments to agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funds.
6. Approve an increase in the personnel complement of the Sheriff’s Office by 2.0 Full-Time Equivalent Deputy Sheriffs.
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Background and Rationale
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In the fall of 2023, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office applied for two grants from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, Community Crime Intervention and Prevention Program. The two grant applications were proposals for community-based programming related to youth services, violence prevention, and community outreach. In February 2024, the Sheriff’s Office was notified that the two grant proposals were funded under this program through December 31, 2025.
For reference, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety provides funding under the Community Crime Prevention Program for community-based programs for crime or violence prevention and intervention programs that provide direct services to the community. This grant program can fund a wide variety of programs and projects, including but not limited to youth services, truancy programs, neighborhood watch, and resident engagement and programs to address the factors that contribute to a community’s crime, delinquency, and disorder concerns. The state encourages innovation and involvement by members of the community served. The Community Crime Program is also a competitive grant program. A total of $31,814,200 was available for grant awards. The Office of Justice Programs received 143 applications requesting over $101,700,000. From this total, 115 applications were selected for funding, including the two awards made to the Sheriff’s Office.
With this funding, the Sheriff’s Office will establish and enhance community-based programming related to youth services, violence prevention, and community outreach. This includes but is not limited to violence interruption with Community Ambassadors and community outreach efforts to prevent crime and criminal activity. This work also includes outreach efforts to reduce the effect and recruitment of youth to gang and criminal activity, including within communities that have been historically underserved, such as the Somali community. In program design and implementation, research and best practices of the United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, will be utilized.
The funding provided by the two grants total $675,000 through December 31, 2025. Funding covers the costs of personnel, including salaries and benefits. A combination of full-time staff, as funded by this grant and included in this Request for Board Action, and temporary staff will be utilized to support youth services, violence prevention, and community outreach.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The state’s policy on Rating Criteria for Competitive Grant Review establishes the expectation that grant programs intentionally identify how the grant serves diverse populations, especially populations experiencing inequities and/or disparities. In recent years, Ramsey County has experienced youth and adult violence at higher rates, which has often occurred at disproportioned rates, effecting historically underserved and marginalized communities. The use of grant funds helps to better serve communities that have been most impacted by violence by through prevention and outreach. This reinforces the county’s goals of well-being, prosperity, and opportunity. In addition, the State of Minnesota has a policy to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion in making competitive grant awards (Executive Order 19.01).
Community Participation Level and Impact
State competitive grant review process includes community members. Reviews are conducted using identified criteria and a standardized scoring system to rate each application.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The funding provided by the two grants total $675,000 through December 31, 2025. Funding covers the costs of personnel, including salaries and benefits. A combination of full-time staff, as funded by this grant and included in this Request for Board Action, and temporary staff will be utilized to support youth services, violence prevention, and community outreach. Should grant funding not continue in future years, programs and services would be discontinued and the staffing complement would be reduced. Staff would be assigned to other positions that are vacant through attrition.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Grant Agreement - Community Crime Prevention
2. Grant Agreement - Community Crime Prevention