Title
Authorization to Apply For, Accept and Enter Into an Agreement for the Arizona State Crisis Intervention Program (AzSCIP) Grant Program (Ordinance S-51720) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to allow the Police Department to apply for, accept, and enter into an agreement for state grant funds through the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission's Arizona State Crisis Intervention Program (AzSCIP). Funding provided under this grant will not exceed $500,000. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
The purpose of this Program is to prevent or reduce gun-related crime and violence, as well as improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, by supporting innovative and evidence-based practices, more effective information sharing, and multi-agency collaboration. Funding will support projects that will create and implement state crisis intervention court proceedings and related gun violence reduction programs and initiatives. All projects must have a direct connection to crisis intervention, which is focused on identifying risk and intervening before harm occurs. Through financial support for innovative, evidence-based projects at all levels of the state, AzSCIP will work to mitigate gun violence, preserve lives by diminishing gun-related fatalities, and decrease the frequency of gun-related injuries.
The Police Department will use this grant funding to mitigate gun violence in Phoenix by partnering with an external mental health service provider to provide peer support navigation services to high-risk individuals, which will increase the availability and accessibility of crisis intervention services. This community-based firearm death and injury reduction effort will focus on identifying risk and intervening before harm occurs. The funding will help in decreasing the occurrences of gun-related homicides and incidents of gun-related injuries resulting from deliberate shootings, while minimizing the instances of gun-involved suicides and occurrences of accidental injuries due to firearms. In addition, the funding would allow the City to offer training on mental health, substance use, and suicide intervention for internal staff as well as caregivers and general community members.
The grant application is due on March 14, 2025. If approved, the Police Department will move forward with submitting the application.
Contract Term
The term of the contract will be two years, beginning on July 1, 2025, with two one-year extension options.
Financial Impact
No matching funds are required.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Police Department.