Finance committee approves $60,000 juvenile-justice grant to expand violence-prevention referrals

The Madison Finance Committee on May 12 approved legislation (file 88123) amending the Police Department operating budget and authorizing the mayor and chief of police or designee to accept a $60,000 Juvenile Justice Title 2 grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice to fund pass-through services to the Rainbow Project and Focused Interruption and additional police overtime and benefits for the Madison Community Healing Through Support and Education Initiative.

The grant, which Assistant Chief Filanta described as a limited, one-year opportunity starting July 1, is intended to expand rapid-response counseling and violence-interruption services for juveniles, youth at risk of system involvement and residents affected by vicarious trauma. “Sometimes the criminal justice system tends to think in terms of witnesses, victims, suspects,” Filanta said. “There are people who live in an apartment complex, for example, who might have heard shots or had a friend of a friend who's affected. That vicarious trauma really exists.”

Alder Madison asked how the department will measure whether referrals are accepted and services delivered. Filanta said the city expects to track referrals made from police contacts for service purposes but not to compile names for police investigative use: “Our goal wouldn't be, of course, to be documenting names for police purposes, but merely for referral purposes.”

Alder Evers sought confirmation that the funds support a one-year juvenile justice grant and that the city would have time to implement programming; Filanta said the funds would be available beginning July 1 and that staff expect to use the entirety of the award over the grant period. Alder Pritchett asked about engaging witnesses who fear retaliation; Filanta said community trust-building and non-law-enforcement referral pathways may help reach people who are reluctant to speak directly to police.

Mayor (presiding) asked whether implementation would be coordinated with the VPU out of Public Health. Chief Valenta confirmed the department will make the connection with public-health partners to align approaches and measurement. Alder Madison requested a post-grant report on uptake and referral outcomes that avoids sharing personally identifiable information; council members asked staff to return with implementation results.

The committee moved and seconded adoption of item 7. Seeing no discussion, the chair recorded a unanimous vote in favor of the item. The vote and recorded action authorize budget amendment and acceptance of the $60,000 Juvenile Justice Title 2 grant to fund the named pass-throughs and department expenses.

Implementation details to be reported back to the committee include referral tracking methods, coordination with the Violence Prevention Unit in Public Health and a summary of service uptake and outcomes (without personal identifiers).