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NEAR Act - Safer Stronger DC

The Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act seeks to use public health approaches to prevent violence and reduce incarceration. In Fiscal Year 2017-2018, Mayor Bowser fully funded all 20 different provisions of the NEAR Act. Each of the 20 provisions has either been fully implemented or are in the process of being put into place. In October 2017, Mayor Bowser launched the Safer Stronger DC Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.

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 displays the Bowser Administration’s progress on fully implementing all 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.
  • Fully funded by the Mayor in the FY18 Budget
  • Office opened October 2017
  • Del McFadden Executive Director
  • $1.5M budget
  • 16 employees
 InProgress (002).fw_.png
In Progress
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
  • Mayor expanded funding in the FY18 Budget for Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program
  • Currently operational at Howard University, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and Prince George’s County Hospital
  • Expanding to United Medical Center in 2018
  • DOH Office of Health Equity focuses on addressing the root causes of health disparities beyond healthcare and health behaviors
 InProgress (002).fw_.png
In Progress
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
  • Fully funded by the Mayor in the FY18 Budget
  • Pilot program launching Spring 2018
  • Anthony Hall hired as Executive Director
 In Progress
In Progress
Title 2A Community Policing Working Group Working group to make recommendations around improving police-community relations Implemented in 2017 Implemented
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
  • Mayor appointed members in 2016-17
  • Council appointed members in late 2017
 In Progress
In Progress
Title 2C Police-Community Relations Survey Survey of police community relations
  • Being implemented in 2018
  • Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to conduct survey
 In Progress
In Progress
Title 2D Assault on a Police
Officer		 Narrows the definition of assault on a police officer Implemented in 2016 Implemented
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 Implemented
Implemented
Title 2F Office of Police Complaints Independent Review Authority Expands the authority of the Office of Police Complaints Implemented in 2016 Implemented
Implemented
Title 2G Stop & Frisk and Use of
Force Data Collection		 Requires collection of demographic data for all uses of force & police stops Implementation has begun, but will require alternative ways to analyze data In Progress
In Progress
Title 2H Crime Data Collection Requires collection and reporting of data about crime victims, suspects, and court outcomes Implemented in 2017 Implemented
Implemented
Title 2I Officer Retention & Recruitment Streamlines experience requirements for new recruits from military and other law enforcement agencies Implemented in 2016 Implemented
Implemented
Title 2J Rehiring of Retired MPD Officers by DFS Allows DFS to hire retired MPD officers Implemented in 2016 Implemented
Implemented
Title 2K Private Security Camera System Incentive Program Creates rebate program for security cameras installed at homes and businesses Implemented in 2016 Implemented
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
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
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
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
Implemented
Title 7 Firearms Ammunition Microstamping Implementation Requires all registered firearms to include microstamping when the technology is available Implemented in 2016 Implemented
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
Implemented

 

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