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File #: 060484    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: ADOPTED
File created: 5/25/2006 In control: Committee of the Whole
On agenda: Final action:
Title: Authorizing the Committee of the Whole to initiate the development of an operational and management strategic plan for the criminal justice system in Philadelphia for the purpose of evaluating criminal justice procedures, crime fighting strategies and public safety programs; further authorizing the Committee to develop a report and recommendations on the best practices for crime prevention, policing, adjudication, incarceration, re-entry and public safety programs; further authorizing the acceptance of private funds and authorizing the expenditure of up to $100,000 in public funds to develop such professional, independent strategic plan conducted under the jurisdiction of the Committee of the Whole; further authorizing the Committee to hold public hearings for the purpose of informing citizens of the preliminary and final recommendations of the strategic plan; and, further authorizing the Committee in furtherance of such evaluation to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to compel the ...
Sponsors: Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember Ramos, Council President Verna, Council President Verna, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Miller
Attachments: 1. Resolution No. 06048400.pdf

Title

Authorizing the Committee of the Whole to initiate the development of an operational and  management strategic plan for the criminal justice system in Philadelphia for the purpose of evaluating criminal justice procedures, crime fighting strategies and public safety programs; further authorizing the Committee to develop a report and recommendations on the best practices for crime prevention, policing, adjudication, incarceration, re-entry and public safety programs; further authorizing the acceptance of private funds and authorizing the expenditure of up to $100,000 in public funds to develop such professional, independent strategic plan conducted under the jurisdiction of the Committee of the Whole; further authorizing the Committee to hold public hearings for the purpose of informing citizens of the preliminary and final recommendations of the strategic plan; and, further authorizing the Committee in furtherance of such evaluation to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

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WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is experiencing nearly a homicide a day since the beginning of the year; and

 

WHEREAS, Unfortunately, this chilling statistic is a continuation of the recent, steady and dramatic increase in homicide rates in our City -- with 311 homicides in 2001, 349 in 2003, and a staggering 380 in 2005; and

 

WHEREAS, While homicide rates have increased, the number of uniformed police officers has decreased; and

 

WHEREAS, The size of the police force has implications on the number of police who are actually "on the street."  And, according to a 2004 PICA report, Philadelphia's percentage of on-street police officers is among the lowest of major U.S. cities; and

 

WHEREAS, Philadelphia City Council voted recently to amend the proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget and called upon the Mayor to hire more officers; and

 

WHEREAS, In an effort to have more official police presence on the street, the Philadelphia Police Department has decided to have plain clothes officers return to duty in uniform; and

 

WHEREAS, The increase in violent crime is having serious ramifications on the District Attorney's Office, the Court System, and all aspects of the criminal justice system; and

 

WHEREAS, The City and its neighborhoods have grown and changed over the years so that in this time of heightened violence and limited resources, it is necessary to review the entire operations and management of the criminal justice system in order to evaluate the coordination of all resources, including the Police Department, the District Attorney's Office, the Public Defenders Association, the Philadelphia Court System, the Juvenile Justice System, the Probation Department, the Prison System, the Department of Human Services, as well as performance and accountability systems in place throughout the criminal justice system; and

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, Such an operational management strategic plan should be developed in cooperation with all stakeholders in the criminal justice system in Philadelphia and an experienced, independent entity, and should be supported and financed through a public-private partnership; now therefore

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee of the Whole is authorized to initiate the development of an operational and  management strategic plan for the criminal justice system in Philadelphia for the purpose of evaluating criminal justice procedures, crime fighting strategies and public safety programs; further, that the Committee is authorized to develop a report and recommendations on the best practices for crime prevention, policing, adjudication, incarceration, re-entry and public safety programs; further, that the Committee is authorized to accept private funds and is authorized to expend up to $100,000 in public funds to develop such professional, independent strategic plan conducted under the jurisdiction of the Committee of the Whole; and, further that the Committee is authorized to hold public hearings for the purpose of informing citizens of the preliminary and final recommendations of the strategic plan.

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Committee of the Whole is authorized in furtherance of such evaluation to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

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