File #: 221062    Version: Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 12/8/2022 In control: Council
On agenda: 12/15/2022 Final action: 12/15/2022
Title: Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas and the Director of the Health Department Appropriating $250,000.00 from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Health Fund to the Victim-Witness Relocation Program account; directing the Director of Health to issue a solicitation for handling the distribution of the funds to victims and witnesses; and authorizing the Director to enter into a contract with the selected proposer.
Sponsors: Quinton Lucas, Melissa Robinson, Director of Health, Ryana Parks-Shaw
Attachments: 1. No Fact Sheet 221062, 2. 221062 cs to org ord-com, 3. Authenticated Ordinance 221062 CS
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[COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR] ORDINANCE NO. 221062

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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas and the Director of the Health Department

Appropriating $250,000.00 from the Unappropriated Fund Balance of the Health Fund to the Victim-Witness Relocation Program account; directing the Director of Health to issue a solicitation for handling the distribution of the funds to victims and witnesses; and authorizing the Director to enter into a contract with the selected proposer.

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WHEREAS, the safety and cooperation of victims and witnesses is crucial to public safety of Kansas City and the successful prosecution of criminal offenders; and

WHEREAS, victims and witnesses may be reluctant to give information and evidence because of perceived or actual physical intimidation or threats against themselves or members of their family, or living in close proximity to their assailants; and

WHEREAS, the Kansas City Police Department has cited difficulty with victim and witness cooperation in all types of criminal cases, including homicides, non-fatal shootings, property crimes, and cases involving domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, victims and witnesses who receive appropriate and adequate care and support are more likely to cooperate with the criminal justice system in bringing perpetrators of crime to justice; and

WHEREAS, there are numerous organizations in the Partners for Peace collaborative that customarily provide witness and victim relocation estimate that the average cost to relocate a nuclear family is anywhere from $3,000.00 to $4,000.00; and

WHEREAS, more flexible City funds for the purpose of victim and witness relocation will make it possible to fill gaps left by existing funding from the State for relocation, which is restricted to use by the Kansas City Police Department.

WHEREAS, the purpose of the newly established Victim-Witness Relocation Program is to ensure the safety and wellness of Kansas City residents who have been victi...

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