City Council - Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee Hearing on Dockets #0336, #1400, #1409, and #1548-1549

• Sponsors: Councilor Henry Santana, Councilor Edward Flynn, Councilor Brian Worrell
• Referral Date: January 29, 2025
• This docket serves as the overarching framework for reviewing grants administered by the Boston Police Department.

• Sponsor: Mayor Michelle Wu
• Referral Date: August 6, 2025
• Awarded by: Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services
• Administered by: Boston Police Department
• Purpose: To fund a comprehensive interagency strategy connecting law enforcement, employment, education, public health, and youth development agencies to reduce youth violence in the Commonwealth.
• Summary of Discussion:
  • Frank DeLuca (BPD SSYI Program Coordinator):
    • The grant supports the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) for fiscal years 2026-2028.
    • BPD provides administrative oversight, working with community coalitions to implement a public health and public safety effort to eliminate youth violence.
    • SSYI focuses on young adults aged 17-24 identified as "proven risks" (most likely perpetrators or victims of shooting violence).
    • Referrals come from law enforcement partners (MA Department of Youth Services, Department of Correction, Suffolk County House of Correction, BPD Youth Violence Strike Force).
    • BPD identifies eligible individuals based on funder criteria.
    • The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is the program's lead agency, with its SSYI case management team coordinating intervention services, intensive case management, and outreach.
    • Case managers refer participants to partnering community organizations for behavioral health counseling, employment, and education services.
    • Current contractors include More Than Words and Inner City Weightlifting (employment), Catholic Charities Boston (education), and Boston Medical Center (behavioral health).
    • The program aims to redirect proven-risk young adults from street violence towards positive, prosocial lifestyles.
  • Roy Martin (BPHC SSYI Director):
    • The primary goal is firearm violence reduction (both perpetration and victimization) among identified individuals.
    • Key metrics include engagement with referred individuals, retention in the program, and participation in programmatic areas (education, employment, behavioral health, case management).
    • The program also measures achievement of projected enrollment targets.
    • SSYI operates within the BPHC's Life Course Health Unit under the Office of Violence Prevention.
    • The program is distinct from BPHC's Violence Intervention Program, which has a geographical footprint, while SSYI is direct service, person-to-person case management.
    • SSYI is the flagship program, with other age-specific programs like P2 Boston (16 and under, focusing on early intervention and parent partnership) and the Men's Health Initiative (25 and over, for firearm involvement or explosive community violent incidents).
    • Councilor Coletta Zapata inquired about partnerships in District 1 (East Boston, Charlestown, North End, Wharf District).
      • Roy Martin explained that SSYI's referral-driven model means outreach follows incidents. East Boston has seen reduced activity, leading to fewer referrals, but the program can adapt to shifting needs.
      • Maria Cheevers mentioned a relaunched Youth Police and Partnership Initiative in East Boston (Maverick Development) and Franklin Field, focusing on prevention and building trust with youth in earlier teenage years, showing past success in reducing violent crime by 19%.

• Sponsor: Mayor Michelle Wu
• Referral Date: August 6, 2025
• Awarded by: Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (Note: Transcript states "Massachusetts Department of Public Health" for this grant, but the docket number is associated with the DMH grant in the prompt. The summary will follow the transcript's stated source.)
• Administered by: Boston Police Department
• Purpose: To fund data collection by the Bureau of Investigative Services and the Drug Control Unit. (Note: Transcript states "Massachusetts Violent Death Reporting System Grant" and describes its purpose as data review for homicides.)
• Summary of Discussion:
  • Lieutenant Daniel Duff (BPD Homicide Unit):
    • The grant supports the Massachusetts Violent Death Reporting System.
    • BPD staff collaborates annually with the MA Department of Public Health's Injury Surveillance Program (Kate Chamberlain and Sheila Harris) since 2003.
    • They review data elements on homicides, including circumstances, suspects, relationships, firearms, and ballistics.
    • BPD reviews the volume of violent deaths, develops data plans, and provides data updates to the DPH.
    • They identify suspicious deaths and review cases from two years prior (e.g., 2023 cases this past year).
    • BPD provides technical expertise for data interpretation and attends advisory committee meetings.
    • Grant funds are primarily used for training, as the training budget is limited.
  • Councilor Murphy inquired about the grant's purpose.
    • Lieutenant Duff clarified it's mainly for reporting information to the state, which then reports to the CDC, allowing for state-by-state comparisons of violent deaths.

• Sponsor: Mayor Michelle Wu
• Referral Date: August 27, 2025
• Awarded by: Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
• Administered by: Boston Police Department
• Purpose: To fund costs associated with providing enhanced 911 services.
• Summary of Discussion:
  • Christopher Markounis (BPD Director of Operations Division):
    • This grant is critical funding for the enhanced 911 program.
    • It funds Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system maintenance, which is the technical backbone for 911 response across Boston Fire Alarm, Boston EMS, and Boston Police Operations.
    • It helps defray staffing costs for the 911 Operations Center at all three public safety locations.
    • This is an annual grant based on call volume and population.
  • Councilor Flynn asked about 911 operator training for domestic violence/sexual assault calls.
    • Christopher Markounis explained that for emergent situations, resources are dispatched quickly. The BPD Domestic Violence Unit follows up.
    • 911 call takers are trained in basic triage and questioning for domestic violence. For sexual assault, they gather basic information to avoid prejudicing criminal cases.
    • Training emphasizes emotional intelligence and sensitivity when speaking with victims.

• Sponsor: Mayor Michelle Wu
• Referral Date: August 27, 2025
• Awarded by: Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
• Administered by: Boston Police Department
• Purpose: To fund the training and certification of 911 telecommunications staff.
• Summary of Discussion:
  • Christopher Markounis (BPD Director of Operations Division):
    • This grant is critical for ensuring all 911 telecommunicators and dispatchers across Boston EMS, Boston Fire Alarm, and Police Operations are certified and up-to-date on requirements.
    • It funds necessary training for employees, aiming to maintain a highly trained staff for 911 calls.

• Opening Remarks:
  • Councilor Edward Flynn emphasized the importance of public safety and health professionals, acknowledging their work in addressing challenges and providing opportunities. He highlighted the critical role of the Boston Public Health Department in violence prevention and supporting crime survivors.
  • Councilor Erin Murphy expressed anticipation for learning about the grants supporting residents and youth development.
  • Council President Ruthzee Louijeune noted previous hearings on 911 operations and the need for technological improvements.
  • Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata thanked the panelists and looked forward to understanding the grants' benefits for Boston residents.
• Sexual Assault and Drink Spiking Discussion:
  • Councilor Flynn raised concerns about drink spiking and sexual assaults, asking Maria Cheevers about prevention and support.
  • Maria Cheevers (BPD Office of Research and Development):
    • The BPD reapplied for Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) funding in September and extended FY21 SAKI money.
    • A budget revision was approved to transition forensic lab serology testing to Y screening, which could increase DNA profile identification by up to 25% for upload to the CODIS database.
    • This transition is a "huge victory" for identifying perpetrators and linking cases nationally.
    • FY25 SAKI grant (if approved) includes funds for continued Y screening transition.
    • Another lab grant provides equipment for the transition.
  • Councilor Julia Mejia discussed challenges with hospital testing for drink spiking, noting varying protocols and the short detection window (4-6 hours).
    • Maria Cheevers agreed on the need for standardized, comprehensive testing across hospitals in Massachusetts.
    • Councilor Mejia inquired about opportunities for community health centers to address gender violence and drink spiking.
    • Maria Cheevers suggested connecting with Kim Mendoza from the Boston Public Health Commission's Office of Gender Violence Prevention, emphasizing that gender violence is a social norms and public health issue.
• Parental Engagement in Violence Prevention:
  • Councilor Mejia highlighted the need to strengthen parent engagement in violence prevention, noting that while youth programs are crucial, parental support is vital for sustained change.
  • Roy Martin acknowledged this as a "new frontier" for SSYI, with ongoing efforts to develop frameworks and processes to better serve young people through parents, aiming to stabilize households and re-enfranchise disenfranchised families.
• Councilor Enrique Pepén expressed support for the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, emphasizing the importance of proactive outreach and support for youth.
• Public Testimony: No individuals signed up for public testimony.

The committee will prepare a report and make recommendations to the full City Council for these dockets.