The Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act seeks to use public health approaches to prevent violence and reduce incarceration. Each of the 20 provisions of the NEAR Act has been fully funded by Mayor Bowser and has been fully implemented by the District of Columbia.
The NEAR Act covers a wide range of public safety initiatives designed to reduce violent crime, reform criminal justice provisions, and improve community-police relations. The table below provides information on each of the 20 provisions.
Bowser Administration Progress on NEAR Act Implementation
Title | Name | Description | Status | Progress |
---|---|---|---|---|
Title 1A | Establishment of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement | Create an office to identify and engage at least 50 violent individuals by providing them with services to help them make different choices and provide them with a financial incentive for participating in the program. |
|
![]() Implemented |
Title 1B | Establishment the Office of Violence Prevention and Health Equity | Fund social workers at emergency rooms to connect trauma victims to services Create a DOH office to focus on health equity |
|
![]() Implemented |
Title 1C | Community Crime Prevention Team | MPD-Department of Behavioral Health pilot program on arrest diversion for repeat mental health consumers better served by treatment than incarceration |
|
![]() Implemented |
Title 2A | Community Policing Working Group | Working group to make recommendations around improving police-community relations | Implemented in 2017 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 2B | Establishment of the Homicide Elimination Strategy Task Force | Task force of community members to advise the government on public health approach to violence |
|
![]() Implemented |
Title 2C | Police-Community Relations Survey | Survey of police community relations |
|
![]() Implemented |
Title 2D | Assault on a Police Officer |
Narrows the definition of assault on a police officer | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 2E | Officer Training | Codified existing MPD training in: (1) community policing; (2) recognizing bias; (3) use of force; (4) Limitations on the use of chokeholds and neck restraints; (5) Mental and behavioral health awareness; and (6) Linguistic and cultural competency. | Implemented in 2016-17 and required training topics covered annually | ![]() Implemented |
Title 2F | Office of Police Complaints Independent Review Authority | Expands the authority of the Office of Police Complaints | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 2G | Stop & Frisk and Use of Force Data Collection |
Requires collection of new data points for all police stops and uses of force |
|
![]() Implemented |
Title 2H | Crime Data Collection | Requires collection and reporting of data about crime victims, suspects, and court outcomes | Implemented in 2017 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 2I | Officer Retention & Recruitment | Streamlines experience requirements for new recruits from military and other law enforcement agencies | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 2J | Rehiring of Retired MPD Officers by DFS | Allows DFS to hire retired MPD officers | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 2K | Private Security Camera System Incentive Program | Creates rebate program for security cameras installed at homes and businesses | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 3 | Traffic Citation Modernization Program | Eliminates items hanging on car’s rear-view mirror from being a moving violation | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 4 | DC Jail Work Release Program | Allows pre-trial detainees held on misdemeanors to be released from the DC Jail for work while awaiting trial | Implemented in 2017 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 5 | DC Jail Good Time Credits |
Increased the credits for early release from the DC Jail for inmates participating in reentry programming | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 6 | Firearms Control Boundaries Clarification | Expands boundaries of where a person licensed to conceal carry a firearm cannot be located while armed | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 7 | Firearms Ammunition Microstamping Implementation | Requires all registered firearms to include microstamping when the technology is available | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
Title 8 | Swift and Certain Sanctions | Allows person under supervised release to be held for up to 72 hours for a dangerous violation of the terms of their release | Implemented in 2016 | ![]() Implemented |
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