DAY TWO

COMMUNITY PROSECUTION & GRANT FUNDING:

A LOOK AT DALLAS’ GROWTH

Maureen Milligan, Chief of Community Prosecution & Community Courts, Dallas City Attorney’s Office

Juan “Johnny” Ramos, Community Prosecution Code Supervisor, Dallas Department of Code Compliance

DALLAS COMMUNITY PROSECUTION TEAM: STAFFING MODEL

Community Prosecutor

Fire Prevention OfficerCode Officer

DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY PROSECUTION

“Community prosecution focuses on targeted areas and involves a long term, proactive partnership among the prosecutor’s office, law enforcement, the community, and public and private organizations, whereby the authority of the prosecutor’s office is used to solve problems, improve public safety, and enhance the quality of life in the community.”

---American Prosecutors Research Institute/Bureau of Justice Assistance Community Prosecution Focus Group, 1995

FOUR KEY PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY PROSECUTION

1. Recognizing the community’s role in public safety

2. Engaging in problem solving3. Establishing and maintaining

partnerships4. Evaluating outcomes of activities

Source: http://www.ndaa.org/nccp_home.html

DALLAS COMMUNITY PROSECUTION TEAM:

MISSION STATEMENTMission: The mission of the Community Prosecution Team is to proactively

improve public safety and the quality of life within the City of Dallas by: Engaging the community to identify and solve nuisance-related

problems, Strategically collaborating with other city departments and local

agencies to more effectively deploy city resources, Seeking voluntary compliance from property owners who maintain

substandard or hazardous properties or illegal land uses, and Using all available legal tools to gain compliance from non-

compliant property owners.

FIRST PRINCIPLE: RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY’S ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETYProactively invite stakeholders to express their concerns

Work together to identify and define problems

Develop and implement solutions

DECISION POINT: DEGREE OF IMMERSION

Office location

Caseload size

Size of geographic area

Team members’ experience and skill set

7 target areas

15 Assistant City Attorneys

10 Code Officers

2 Fire Prevention Officers

12 Community Court staff members

COMMUNITY PROSECUTION TARGET AREAS

SECOND PRINCIPLE: ENGAGING IN PROBLEM SOLVING

PROBLEM PROPERTIESWhat do we usually do?

“It’s not my problem”

“I am only responsible for…”

“I’d like to help, but I don’t have the resources”

“It is a house at 123 Main Street. It is owned by John Smith.”

STRATEGIC GUIDELINESInitial visit to propertyIdentify type of problem propertyIdentify type of ownerDevelop strategy & timeline for addressing problems Who/what is part of the problem? Who can be part of the solution? What needs to happen first? Next? Last?Make personal contact with ownerSeek voluntary complianceEnforcement

TYPES OF PROBLEM PROPERTIESActive drug/prostitution houseStash house (drugs or stolen goods)SmokehouseGang hangout/Hangout for teenagersHomeless encampmentPotential location for crime Theft, burglary Graffiti Place to take a victimHome for dogs, cats, wildlifeSubstandard & dangerousIllegal (zoning; lack of licenses/permits)

TYPES OF “OWNERS” OF PROBLEM PROPERTIESDeceased owner No will, no identifiable heirs No will, identifiable heirs, unwilling to care for property Drug-addicted/mentally ill heirs

Investor Not local, no property management or unqualified management Local, high-volume of properties, money is sole focus Local, no funds Local, unmotivated

Bank-owned

Fraudulent owner

City Owned

DECEASED OWNER, SUBSTANDARD HOME

WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?Reportedly mentally unstable occupant with an alleged history

of engaging in criminal mischief and violence Slashed neighbors’ tires and broke windows Racist statements Walked through neighborhood shouting and screaming

Occupant would have remained in neighborhood and house would have continued to deteriorate

HOW HAD WE PREVIOUSLY TRIED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

Code inspectionsNotices of violationOutreach by neighborsSocial ServicesReferral to tax collection law firm for outstanding property

taxes

But then it becomes city-owned…

WHAT ELSE COULD WE DO?Solution: Writ of possession

Multi-agency operation Sheriff’s office (execute writ) Code inspectors (inspect premises) Animal Control (seize animals) Crisis Intervention (interview occupant) DPD Mental Health Officer (mental health warrant)

Later joined by…… Fire department (make entry with power saw) Bomb squad (inspect trip wire & evacuate neighborhood) News station

FINAL OUTCOME?

BANK/INVESTOR-OWNED, ILLEGAL LAND USE

WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?Original owner built numerous structures without any building

permits; Structures spanned two separate lots

Current owner planned to open group home and allow tenants to rent individual shacks

Located across the street from senior day care, 3 blocks from elementary school

HOW HAD WE TRIED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

We hadn’t

One of the most dangerous streets in Dallas; officers wouldn’t exit their vehicle without AR-15

Newspaper had published an article decrying the lack of zoning enforcement in this residential neighborhood

City Attorney’s office was wary of filing lawsuits related to single-family properties in District Court

WHAT ELSE COULD WE DO?Solution: Make contact with bank representatives Track down new owners after the bank sold it Document, document, document Become a private investigator as the property kept being flipped ***New Tool: Municipal Repair Docket

FINAL OUTCOME?

ILLEGAL BUSINESS

WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?New business located directly across the street from

elementary schoolBlacked out windows, all customers had to be buzzed inVirtually no retail productsUncooperative business owners

HOW HAD WE TRIED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

Visited property the day after receiving a complaint from the principal

WHAT ELSE COULD WE DO?Solution: Revisited numerous times to attempt inspection Enforced all applicable codes Contacted property owner and required him to attend inspections

FINAL OUTCOME?

ILLEGAL BUSINESS

FINAL OUTCOME?

SOLVING MORE THAN ONE PROBLEM

CITY OF D

ALLAS

COMMUNITY COURTS

COMMUNITY COURTSThe Community Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate quality of life

offenses

The Community Court is a “plea court” If a defendant pleads “Not Guilty” his case is referred to the main municipal

courthouse at 2014 Main

Defendants who plead “Guilty” or “No Contest” may be ordered to: perform community service in lieu of paying a fine attend rehabilitative or educational programs (if necessary) abate the violation (for code citations)

All City of Dallas citations are dismissed after successful completion of program (except for theft & assault offenses)

COMMUNITY COURT LOCATIONSSouth Dallas West Dallas South Oak Cliff

Potential community service sites: vacant lots landscaping/minor repair for elderly or disabled trash pick-up after a community event graffiti wipe-outs

COMMUNITY COURT: SUCCESS STORIESProblem: Substandard house near a convenience store. Owner, a drug addict,

allowed drug users and prostitutes to use the property.Community Court Solution: Owner was cited for litter. He agreed to enter

an inpatient substance abuse program. He is currently clean & sober, has his own apartment and regularly attends his sister’s church.

Problem: Substandard house occupied by a hoarder. Located across a playing field from an elementary school.

Community Court Solution: Community Prosecutor obtained permission from the property owner to have Community Court defendants and community volunteers clean the property.

Problem: Widespread prostitution at truck stops near I-20.Community Court Solution: DPD Vice Unit, Community Court and social

service agencies target truck stop prostitutes once a month through the New Life Opportunities Initiative.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIESDedicate percentage of code enforcement fines to a home

repair program Operation GoodwillOperation Crackdown Landlord Hall of ShameNew/modified ordinances and lawsFood TrustCommunity Toolkit

FUNDING YOUR PROGRAMFirst Step: Identify a research partner & technical assistance provider Local higher education institution or private research institute Center for Community Progress—Technical Assistance Scholarship Program National Crime Prevention Council—Crime Prevention Through

Environmental Design training

Community Development Block Grants Objective Category: Suitable Living Environment; Outcome Category:

Sustainability

Office of Justice Programs SMART Prosecution—promote effective data-driven, research-based

approaches to prosecution JAG Grant—specifically allows for personnel costs related to

prosecution/courts & strategic planning; funding allocation is based on statutory formula

BUILDING & RETAINING SUPPORT FOR YOUR PROGRAMCelebrate small and big success Social media Council briefings Presentations at neighborhood meetings

Include the community in your efforts When possible, include community stakeholders

(neighborhood & for-profit/non-profit leaders) in the planning process

Meet regularly with all stakeholders & meet them on their own turf

Be accessible and transparent

CLOSING WORDS

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!