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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1551RESOLUTION NO. IsS" I A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, supporting and implementing programs and/or policies that will enhance the safety of domestic violence survivors (including children) and attempt to hold abusers accountable. WHEREAS, the City of Kent has endorsed and encouraged programs that continue to send the message that domestic violence will not be tolerated in this jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, in addition to the community services and current legislation provided on the issue of domestic violence, the City's domestic violence survivors need a specific location where they can obtain information regarding safety, intervention, and criminal proceedings as well as other support services; and WHEREAS, at least one-third of all criminal cases prosecuted in the City of Kent are misdemeanor domestic violence cases; and WHEREAS, the survivors of domestic violence and the children involved are often unable to get into a shelter and transitional housing and are often forced to return to their abusive environment; and WHEREAS, fifty percent of domestic violence cases also involve cases of child abuse; and 1 Domestic Violence WHEREAS, a task force committee has been established to streamline a better coordinated response to domestic violence among city and community agencies as well as investigate additional funding sources; and WHEREAS, the issue of education and prevention of domestic violence is an immediate issue because in order to help stop the cycle, the cycle and dynamics need to be identified by children, adults, and community agencies; NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The survivors of domestic violence (including children) who are citizens of Kent, deserve and have been in need of a policy mandated by the City that specifically states this City will not tolerate domestic violence. The City continues to endorse and promote programs such as the Domestic Abuse Women's Network and the Family Violence Unit illustrating that domestic violence is not tolerated in our jurisdiction. The City makes strong domestic violence statements in the City policy manual specifically regarding code of conduct especially in professions that involve law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and emergency personnel. SECTION 2. The City supports programs that provide shelter, emergency services, and counseling through D.A.W.N. The City created a Family Violence Unit to provide services as well as information regarding the criminal justice system for survivors. A. The City encourages grant monies to be spent on additional housing as well as education (shelters are full the majority of the time and no preventative education is offered in schools). The City endorses the acquisition of grant monies obtained by the police department specifically for the use of temporary housing arrangements. 2 Domestic Violence B. The City encourages developing curriculum throughout all grades including undergraduate as well as graduate programs, law schools, and training across all medical professions. C. The City supports and encourages specific mandated training especially in the areas of criminal justice system (police, judges, prosecutors, advocates, corrections personnel) as well as in the area of civil law-specifically family law courts. D. The City Council encourages fines imposed on criminal domestic violence offenses be redistributed back to survivors in order to assist in meeting housing and/or other service demands. E. The City supports the possibility of changes in WorkFirst accommodations for DV victims. (In order to get benefits, a survivor must meet certain conditions which can inherently affect and make known their whereabouts to an abuser. Shelters often will not provide space to survivors in the same city where the survivor is employed). F. The City would support legislation that would allow survivors to attend civil and/or criminal hearings without being penalized or discriminated against by their employers because of their court appearance, as well as changes in the Landlord Tenant Act that would allow survivors to be released from rental or lease agreements if a No Contact Order was in place. SECTION 3. The City supports the continuation of increased communication with Division of Children and Family Services (Child Protection Services) as it relates to domestic violence and the need to work in partnership to help identify and address the impacts both short and long term to children. The city supports legislation that promotes the safety of victims and children which is the first priority listed in Child Protective Services' mission statement. The City will consider endorsing legislation that promotes either additional criminal charges when a child witnesses an incident of domestic violence and/or stiffer penalties at sentencing because the violation was witnessed by a child. 3 Domestic Violence SECTION 4. The City Council hereby supports and endorses the mission statement of the Kent Domestic Violence Task Force. Mission Statement. To create a coordinated, comprehensive, and community response to domestic violence with the consistent message that domestic violence is a crime and will not be tolerated. The Domestic Violence Task Force promotes victim safety, community awareness, abuser accountability through education, prevention, intervention, and treatment. SECTION 5. The City Council shares a vision with the Kent Domestic Violence Task Force to develop a curriculum and endorse legislation that mandates training for all appropriate professionals regarding the issue of domestic violence. SECTION 6. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this resolution is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. SECTION 7. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage. PASS ED at a regular open public meeting by the City Council of the City ofKent, Washington, this {1 day of ar , 1999. CONCURRED in by the Mayor of the City of Kent this /1 day of ~~ ,1999. ATTEST: Domestic Violence APPROVED AS TO FORM: I hereby cerf that this is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. LS 51 passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, the /7 day of~~ ,1999. P:\Civil\Resolution\fv.res .. doc 5 Domestic Violence