##VIDEO ID:7VRqntDaoGE## GOOD MORNING FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS AARON MURPHY, CITY COUNCILOR AT LARGE AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON STRONG WOMEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES . TODAY IS FEBRUARY 26, 2025.  IT'S 10 A.M. IN THE MORNING. THIS HEARING BEING RECORDED AND IT IS BEING LIVESTREAMED AT BOSTON DARK OF SLASH CITY COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON ITS FINALE CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 AND FIOS CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT C C C DOT S WFC AT BOSTON DOT GOV AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS . PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING.  INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGN UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU'RE IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET THAT IS NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING ON LINE ON TV IN YOUR INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING VIRTUALLY YOU CAN EMAIL CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON RON COBB AT RON JACOB S.O.B. AT BOSTON DOT GOV FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON AUGUST 0293. A MESSAGE IN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BOSTON TO ACCEPT AND EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF $145,687 IN $0.72 IN THE FORM OF A GRANT FOR THE FBI 24 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT A STOP GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND IT IS PASSED THROUGH THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY AND IT IS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE POLICE.  THE GRANT WILL FUND CIVILIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CIVILIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE WHO PROVIDES SERVICES FOR VICTIMS IN JAMAICA PLAIN AS WELL AS FOR SPANISH SPEAKING VICTIMS CITYWIDE AND ALSO SUPPORTING OVERTIME FOR ALL CIVILIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES CITYWIDE. THIS MATTER WAS SPONSORED BY MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 29. WE ARE JOINED TODAY IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL BY MY COLLEAGUES COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR PEPEN. THANK YOU.  AND SO WE CAN START WITH OPENING REMARKS.  WOULD YOU LIKE TO START?  THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR SHARING THIS IMPORTANT MEETING AND THANK YOU TO THE DEDICATED TEAM THE PANELISTS THAT ARE HERE WITH US FOR THEIR IMPORTANT WORK IN BOSTON AT THE BOSTON POLICE. BUT WORKING WITH THE POLICE, WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ,ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE SERVICES, THE TOOLS.  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS EVERY EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND I KNOW THE BOSTON POLICE PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE THE PROPER SERVICES BUT ALSO INVESTIGATE DOMESTIC VIOLENT ASSAULTS THAT WE WE HAVE SEEN HERE IN THE CITY OBVIOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS WELL. THIS IS A FEDERAL GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PASSED DOWN TO THE MASS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY INTO INTO THE BOSTON PLAY. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT AND HOW IT IMPACTS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC SURVIVORS ESPECIALLY WOMEN THAT MAY OR MAY NOT SPEAK SPANISH. I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW IT IMPACTS THEM AND WHAT SERVICES THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE.  THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE PANEL THAT'S HERE WITH US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR WEBER WHO REPRESENTS JAMAICA PLAIN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,  COUNCILOR PEPEN. GOOD MORNING ALL. THANK YOU TO THE TO THE CHAIR FOR HOSTING THIS VERY IMPORTANT HEARING ON THIS IMPORTANT GRANT . I'M HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT IMPACTS A LOT OF FAMILIES IN OUR CITY AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT IT. I AM ALSO VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THIS IS FOR SPANISH SPEAKING VICTIMS CITYWIDE AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE THAT SPANISH SPEAKING ALTHOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT SOMETIMES FEEL THAT THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEONE TO REACH OUT TO TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT AN ISSUE. SO I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY AND I'M HERE TO JUST BE SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. COUNCILOR WEBER. SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. AS YOU POINT OUT, I REPRESENT JAMAICA PLAIN AND YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THESE SERVICES BOTH IN JP AND CITYWIDE. I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DISCUSSION I THINK IS HEIGHTENED BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUSPENSION OF DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FUNDING AND TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT KIND OF WORK WE DO WITH THIS FUNDING AND WHO'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY, YOU KNOW, THESE POLITICAL DECISIONS FROM WASHINGTON.  I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED HERE SO LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  I'LL JUST SAY HOW THIS GRANT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR TESTIMONY EXPLAINING THE GRANT AND WE CAN START WITH YOU. SO IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK.  I'M JOANNA SAVAGE AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. NICOLE, THE POINT I'M A LIEUTENANT DETECTIVE AT THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ASSIGNED TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT.  COME TO ME. JUST GO AHEAD AND TALK, PLEASE. YEAH. THANK YOU. SO AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE GET FROM THE OPW PASS THROUGH E OPS EVERY YEAR. IT'S A REALLY PHENOMENAL GRANT FOR US BECAUSE IT DOES SUPPORT ONE FULL TIME CIVILIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE OF WHICH WE CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE FIVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SHE IS AS WE MENTIONED SPANISH SPEAKING. THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A SHIFT RECENTLY SO SHE'S NOW COVERING. SHE'S GONE BACK TO COVERING BOTH JAMAICA PLAIN AND EAST BOSTON, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE HEAVY SPANISH SPEAKING POPULATIONS.  AND SHE ALSO OVERTIME FROM THE GRANT SUPPORTS OVERTIME FOR ALL THE ADVOCATES TO SUPPORT SERVICES CITYWIDE BUT FOR THIS PARTICULAR ADVOCATE TWO SPANISH SPEAKING SERVICES CITYWIDE. SO REALLY IT IS JUST SALARY FRINGE AND OVERTIME FOR THIS ONE ADVOCATE AND I I'M HAPPY TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE TYPES OF SERVICES SHE PROVIDES. YEAH, IF YOU COULD AND THEN WE COULD HAVE SOME QUESTIONS BUT I THINK IF YOU EXPLAINED IT MORE ABOUT US HELP US WITH OUR QUESTIONS.  YOU ABSOLUTELY DO. I MEAN SO OBVIOUSLY WHEN SOMEONE BECOMES INVOLVED IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT THE ADVOCATES CAN HELP WITH SAFETY PLANNING AND HELP GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. DO YOU WANT TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL? I'M SURE I MEAN WE THE ADVOCATES ARE A GREAT RESOURCE FOR US.  IT GIVES VICTIMS ANOTHER AVENUE TO SEEK RESOURCES.  THAT'S SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH GIVES THEM A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN BEING ABLE TO USE THOSE RESOURCES.  SOME OF THE SERVICES WE USE JUST FOR EXAMPLE IS LIKE CAS MURDER. THEY OPERATE THIS STATEWIDE DV HOTLINE BUT THEY ALSO OFFER A LOT OF IN-PERSON SERVICES IN THE CITY.  SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WE USE KIND OF A VARIETY OF SERVICES THAT SOME ARE IN THE CITY AND SOME ARE A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE THE CITY BUT THEY'RE WILLING TO HELP WITH US AS WELL. IS WE USE A FAB, WE USE YOUTH CONNECT, WE USE BOK LA RED FENWAY HEALTH, WE USE SORT OF A VARIETY OF SERVICES THAT CAN OFFER SAFETY PLANNING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, COUNSELING AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE AS WELL. SO THE ADVOCATES WORK DIRECTLY WITH ALL OF THOSE PARTNER AGENCIES.  OKAY, THAT'S GOOD. WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILOR FOR.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR MURPHY AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION PANEL THAT IS HERE AND AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.  SO ARE THE ADVOCATES WORKING WITHIN THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER OR ARE THE ADVOCATES ON CALL OR ARE THEY IN THE COMMUNITY ACCESSIBLE OR HOW IS IT THAT BOSTON POLICE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE ADVOCATES OR DO THE SURVIVORS FIRST COMMUNICATE WITH THE ADVOCATES AND THEN THEN THE COMMUNICATION WITH BOSTON POLICE STARTS?  SO IT'S KIND OF TWOFOLD. THE ADVOCATES SIT IN THE DISTRICT STATIONS SO THEY'RE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE WHICH MAKES THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE.  THEY DO ALL CURRENTLY WORK THE DAY SHIFT AND SO WHEN AN INCIDENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS REPORTED, IT GETS ASSIGNED TO THE AREA ADVOCATE AS WELL AS THE DETECTIVE. IF THERE'S A CRIMINAL ELEMENT AS WELL AND THEN THE ADVOCATES MAKE FIRST CONTACT SO THEY USUALLY MAKE A PHONE CALL. THEY FREQUENTLY USE TEXT MESSAGING THROUGH THE CLIENTS OR EMAIL AND THEN IF THEY'RE UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT THEY DO SEND LETTERS THE SERVICES AS WELL. THANK YOU.  HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS TO BE A CRITICAL PART OF THIS PROCESS WHEN A SURVIVOR MAY NOT SPEAK ENGLISH THEY MIGHT ONLY SPEAK SAY SPANISH? HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE PEOPLE ON ON STAFF THAT ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SURVIVOR AND IN SPANISH OR ANOTHER LANGUAGE? I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.  DOCUMENTED WE HAVE ABOUT 15% OF OUR VICTIMS ARE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING AND IT GIVES THEM AN AVENUE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH SOMEONE WHO MAYBE THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH SPEAKING IN A NATIVE LANGUAGE. THESE ARE TRAUMATIC EVENTS AND IT'S OFTEN DIFFICULT EVEN IF THEY DO SPEAK ENGLISH TO COMMUNICATE IN A SECOND LANGUAGE WHEN IT'S MUCH MORE POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO COMMUNICATE IN THEIR THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE.  THANK YOU TO OUR SURVIVORS HESITANT AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THE BOSTON POLICE BUT ARE SURVIVORS HESITANT AT ALL OF REACHING OUT TO BOSTON POLICE FOR ANY PARTICULAR REASON? IT MAY BE IT MAY BE IT MIGHT BE IMMIGRATION RELATED ISSUES. MAYBE IT MIGHT BE BEING AFRAID OF THE PAPERWORK AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. MAYBE IT MIGHT BE MAYBE IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO GET THEIR SPOUSE OR PARTNER INTO LEGAL TROUBLE. IN THE END THEY THINK THAT FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THE POLICE WOULD STOP THAT PROCESS . BUT CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES? YES, CERTAINLY THERE'S SORT OF LIKE YOU MENTIONED, A LOT OF THOSE ARE MAJOR REASONS THAT SOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS DO NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH THE CRIMINAL PROCESS. THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THESE ADVOCATES IS IT GIVES THEM AN AVENUE TO GET RESOURCES THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT COMMITTING TO A CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURT CASE. AND SO WHILE THEY CERTAINLY CAN BE SORT OF DUAL, SHOULD A COURT CASE NOT GO FORWARD OR THEY DON'T WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH A CRIMINAL MATTER, THEY'RE STILL ELIGIBLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THESE ADVOCATES AND GO FORWARD IN SEEKING RESOURCES AS THEY SEE FIT, PARTICULARLY SAFETY PLANNING AND YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO GET THEMSELVES TO A SAFE PLACE IN A WAY FROM THE ABUSE.  MY FINAL QUESTION AND I DID A LOT OF WORK WHILE I REPRESENT CHINATOWN AND MANY MOST PEOPLE IN CHINATOWN SPEAK CANTONESE,  SOME SPEAK MANDARIN, SOME SPEAK SOME SPEAK ENGLISH. BUT THE MAJORITY DO SPEAK CANTONESE.  I ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S A IT'S A IT'S HUGE. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A PROBLEM IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AS WELL.  MY MY QUESTION IS IS IF A SURVIVOR OF OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMES TO THE BOSTON POLICE COMES TO A COMMUNITY PARTNER AND THAT SURVIVOR MIGHT HAVE IMMIGRATION CHALLENGES THEY MIGHT BE UNDOCUMENTED.  I KNOW BOSTON PLACE DOES NOT ASK THAT QUESTION TO A SURVIVOR BUT HOW DO WE HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT SURVIVORS THAT MIGHT BE UNDOCUMENTED HAVE FAITH AND CONFIDENCE TO COME FORWARD IN THE INTEREST OF THEIR SAFETY AND IF THEIR CHILDREN'S SAFETY IN KNOWING THAT BOSTON POLICE WILL NOT ASK ANY ISSUES RELATING TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS? YEP. SO YOU'RE CORRECT WE DON'T INQUIRE ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS AT ALL AND I THINK OUR WORK WITH THE VICTIMS AND WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS SPEAKS TO THAT AND THAT THEY CAN FEEL CONFIDENT AND BY CONNECTING THEM WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WE REGULARLY WORK WITH, THOSE PARTNERS CAN INFORM THEM AS WELL THAT THIS IS A PARTNER. WE'RE PARTNERS OF THE BOSTON POLICE. THIS IS HOW THEY HANDLE IT.  BUT HAVING THAT SUPPORT WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY GROUPS HELPS BOLSTER THEIR COOPERATION WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE IN THAT AND THAT'S BASED ON TRUST AND THAT'S BASED ON HAVING A RELATIONSHIP TOO, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT, YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS PANELISTS AND EXPLAINING THE WORK THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. MY QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT WHEN SOMEONE IS SEEKING SERVICES, WHAT IS THE PROCESS AND IS THERE A PHYSICAL OFFICE IT COULD GO TO? CAN YOU JUST MAYBE SHARE FOR ME AND THE PUBLIC LIKE WHAT'S THE PROCESS TO PROPERLY GET ATTENTION?  SURE. SO LIKE I SAID, IF A POLICE REPORT OR AN INCIDENT IS DOCUMENTED OR ADVOCATES WOULD REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO THE VICTIMS, THEY ARE STATIONED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE POLICE DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY SO PEOPLE CAN WALK IN AND ASK FOR AN ADVOCATE AS WELL AT ANY OF THE POLICE STATIONS FUNCTION TO ANY A ONE AND FOUR DO NOT HAVE A PHYSICAL ADVOCATE THAT SIT IN THOSE STATIONS BUT THEY CERTAINLY COULD BE CONNECTED WITH ONE NEARBY. ADDITIONALLY THERE'S A STATEWIDE HOTLINE FOR DV WHICH IS RUN BY CASA MYRNA AND SAFE LINK AND THEN IF YOU CONTACT ANY OF THE BOSTON POLICE STATIONS THEY CAN REFER YOU TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT AND WE CAN LINK YOU UP WITH AN ADVOCATE AND SOME SERVICES EVEN IF THERE'S NOT A CRIMINAL INCIDENT. OKAY. AND IS WHAT TYPE OF FOLLOW UP EXISTS WITH THAT ONCE THEY DO SUBMIT THE LISTING TO THE POLICE, THE REPORT SO THAT KIND OF IS DEPENDENT ON THE SURVIVOR SEEKING SERVICES.  THEY CAN CONTINUE THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION OR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ADVOCATE AND MANY DO BECAUSE THEY FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM ON A REPEATED BASIS. BUT SOMETIMES THEY GET CONNECTED WITH THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND THEY THEN COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES PARTNERS IN WHICH CASE THEY'RE CONTINUED WORKING WITH THEM BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY LOOP BACK IN WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION. THAT'S TRULY IT FOR ME. I'M IN I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS BRAND SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CORPORATE COUNCILOR. SURE. THANK YOU. MAYBE YOU ANSWERED THIS ALREADY BUT SO IN TERMS OF THE JAMAICA PLAIN CONNECTION, CAN YOU JUST HELP ME EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THE IS THERE SOMEBODY AT YOU KNOW, 13 WHAT'S THE HOW DOES HE GET COVERED UNDER. YES.  SO THERE'S A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE WHO SITS IN THE JAMAICA PLAIN POLICE STATION AND SO THAT'S WHERE SHE WORKS OUT OF SHE MAKES MOSTLY CALLS BECAUSE SHE DOES ASSIST WITH SPANISH SPEAKING VICTIMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS WELL. BUT SHOULD A VICTIM WANT TO SPEAK TO HER?  THEY CAN GO INTO THE E 13 POLICE STATION OR THEY COULD THEY COULD CALL AND ASK TO SPEAK WITH THE ADVOCATE AND THAT IS THE ADVOCATE THAT THIS GRANT SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTS.  AND I GUESS DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY CASES YOU KNOW SOMEBODY ONE OF THESE ADVOCATES IS EXPECTED TO HANDLE IN A YEAR?  YEAH.  YES. SO I HAVE SOME GENERAL NUMBERS THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT ASSIGNED APPROXIMATELY 13,000 CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE CITY LAST YEAR. AND THOSE RANGE FROM VERBAL DISPUTES, SIMPLE ASSAULTS TO AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS. BUT THE ADVOCATES CONTACT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE VICTIMS.  WHEN WE TRACK THE ADVOCATE'S CONTACTS WE DON'T COUNT REPEAT VICTIMS OR SURVIVORS JUST FOR NUMBER PURPOSES. JUST GET SO THEY MADE CONTACT OR THEY REACHED OUT TO OVER 10,000 VICTIMS. NEW VICTIM SERVES FOUR LAST YEAR 2024 WAS OVER 3000 NEW VICTIMS THAT THEY SPOKE TO.  AND DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED WITH SERVICES?  DO YOU HAVE DATA ON THAT? ALL OF THEM ARE REFERRED TO SERVICES.  IF THE IF THEY DON'T. SOME OF THEM USE DIFFERENT SERVICES THEY DON'T WE DON'T ALWAYS GET FEEDBACK ON IF THEY END UP GOING FORWARD WITH SERVICES FROM SOME OF OUR PARTNERS.  BUT THERE ARE ALL OF THOSE 3000 ARE PROVIDED WITH SERVICES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. OKAY.  AND THEN I ASSUME THAT IS THERE'S THERE'S STILL YOU VISA PROGRAM WHICH I BELIEVE, RIGHT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. SO IF SOMEBODY WHO WHO IS UNDOCUMENTED COMES FORWARD AND I BELIEVE IT'S IF THE PARTICIPATED IN A YOU KNOW AND AIDING A CRIMINAL ACTION OR YOU KNOW THEY'RE THEY CAN BE GRANTED LEGAL STATUS UNDER THE U. VISA PROGRAM. YES, THAT'S CORRECT. SO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ONE OF THE INCIDENTS IS COVERED BY THE VISA PROGRAM. SO SHOULD A VICTIM WHO IS THEIR STATUS IS, YOU KNOW, UNDOCUMENTED THEY CAN APPLY FOR THE U VISA AND THAT COULD FILTER THROUGH THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IT'S STILL LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDING IS TAKING PLACE OR DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG YOU CAN GET LEGAL STATUS THROUGH THAT?  I BELIEVE IN TERMS OF IF IT'S GRANTED IT'S UP TO FOUR YEARS I BELIEVE. OKAY. AND THEN I GUESS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS HOW DOES IT WORK WHERE YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ASK SOMEBODY'S IMMIGRATION STATUS BUT AT SOME POINT TO I ASSUME THESE ADVOCATES WILL REFER THEM FOR SERVICES THROUGH THE U VISA PROGRAM. THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. THEY REFER THEM THROUGH LEGAL SERVICES WHO CAN HELP THEM WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING FOR A VISA SO THEY REFER THEM GENERALLY TO A LEGAL SERVICE THAT WORKS WITH THIS COMMUNITY AND THEY HELP THEM PROCESS. WELL I GUESS IT'S AT SOME POINT YOU KNOW, EITHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS OR WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL. SO WE WE ARE NOT REQUIRING PEOPLE TO LIST THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS AND FINDING OUT THAT THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED AND REFERRING THEM TO THEIR SERVICES. SO WE DON'T INQUIRE AND THE ADVOCATES DON'T ASK. SOME SURVIVORS DO DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION TO ADVOCATES BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY HAVE THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO AND WILL ASK SPECIFICALLY FOR RESOURCES AND OTHERWISE WE REFER EVERYONE TO THESE SERVICES THAT WE KIND OF GIVE. THE ADVOCATES ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT GIVING AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT EACH SERVICES ARE AND ASKING IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND THEN THEY SEND THEM THE PHONE NUMBERS HOW TO BE IN CONTACT WITH THEM DIRECTLY.  AND SO SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED THOSE SERVICES MAY BE OFFERED THOSE SERVICES ANYWAY JUST SO THAT IF IT WAS SOMETHING THEY CAN KIND OF DETERMINE IF THEY NEED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. OKAY. AND JUST TWO MORE QUESTIONS. SO I.  IS THERE A BACKLOG FOR THOSE VISAS FOR CERTAIN LEGAL SERVICES FOR THOSE VISAS? DO WE FIND THAT IF SOMEBODY SOMEBODY NEEDS THAT THAT THOSE LEGAL SERVICES YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET SOMEBODY TO PROVIDE THEM OR IT'S MY EXPERIENCE THAT THEY CAN GET LEGAL SERVICES RELATIVELY QUICKLY? OKAY.  AND THEN I JUST SO YOU I THINK YOU SAID FIVE ADVOCATES ACROSS THE CITY THIS YEAR FUNDING A SIX OR IS THIS THE THAT THIS IS THE FENCE JUST LIKE IT IS A NUMBER FIVE? YEP. SO IF YOU WANT TO BREAK DOWN THE THAT WERE FUNDED ADVOCATE FOR ME IT COVERS JAMAICA PLAN AND EAST BOSTON WE HAVE TWO ADVOCATES THAT ARE ON THE OPERATING BUDGET. ONE COVERS BY WEST ROXBURY AND ROSLINDALE AND HYDE PARK. THE OTHER COVERS MATTAPAN. AND THEN WE HAVE TWO OTHER ADVOCATES THAT ARE FUNDED BY ANOTHER FEDERAL GRANT THROUGH THE COVID GRANT THAT WILL BE COMING TO AN END SOON. ONE OF THOSE COVERS ROXBURY AND THE OTHER ONE COVERS DORCHESTER AND SOUTH BOSTON. SO RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO DEDICATED COVERAGE IN AREA D WHICH INCLUDES SOUTH PARK, SOUTH END, BACK BAY AND AUSTIN RIGHT AND DE 14. SO THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING DEDICATED. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS TO MY COLLEAGUES AND A FEW THINGS AND THIS IS YOUR WORLD BUT MANY GRANTS ARE USED FOR SALARY, RIGHT? YEAH. SO A LITTLE SCARY, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF THE GRANT RUNS OUT AND A LOT OF THE COVID GRANTS WE'RE SEEING THAT IN BPC WITH A LOT OF OUR ESSER FUNDING MONEY IS BEING SPENT SO OTHER STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO SUSTAIN THESE PROGRAMS BEYOND THE GRANT. I'M GOING TO READ THE STATEMENT I WILL SEND WITH I LOVE IT. YEAH SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. YEAH. THE CITY IS MONITORING COMMUNICATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS CAME OUT BEFORE THE NEWS THIS MORNING BY THE WAY, THE CITY IS MONITORING COMMUNICATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON ANY FEDERAL FUNDED GRANT AWARDS AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE FINANCE CABINET TO UNDERSTAND ANY IMPACTS THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY A CHANGE IN GRANTS BEING AWARDED. I MEAN I KNOW WE'RE ACTIVELY TRYING TO GET ADVOCATES ON THE OPERATING BUDGET. I MEAN I THINK IT'S AN EFFORT WE'RE ALWAYS MAKING BUT IT KIND OF GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE HAVE MANY OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE FEDERALLY GRANT FUNDED THROUGHOUT THE CITY INCLUDING THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING MY OWN OFFICE AND WE ARE THE BODY THAT APPROVES THE BUDGET AND THE STAFFING.  IS THERE A REASON WHY WE'RE NOT SHIFTING THEM ON LIKE WHAT PUSHBACK IS THERE FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO NOT PRESENT THEIR BUDGET TO THE MAYOR WITH ALL BECAUSE IT'S FIVE IT'S NOT A LARGE NUMBER, RIGHT? YEAH I UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT BUT I DO KNOW THAT LIZ O'BRIEN IS ACTIVELY AND I'VE HEARD HER HAVING PHONE CALLS. I KNOW THEY'RE ACTIVELY TRYING TO GET OPERATING BUDGET FUNDS FOR THIS AND THIS TOPIC.  IT'S A HEAVY ONE BUT SOMETHING I KNOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES CARE A LOT ABOUT AND HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT IT RECENT COUNCIL MEETINGS AND HEARINGS. COULD YOU SPEAK BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ANY OTHER GRANTS THAT WE DO HAVE THAT SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS IN THE CITY. WE DO HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE DO HAVE THAT COVERED GRANT THAT SUPPORTS TWO OF THESE ADVOCATES THAT AGAIN, I CAN'T I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO AN END JUNE 30TH. THANK YOU. THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER ONE I KNOW OF SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OKAY.  I MEAN THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING. YOU CLEARLY THERE'S MORE YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T NEED MORE WORK BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A NEED. SO IS THERE LIKE A PLAN TO REACH OUT TO THE JAMAICA PLAIN COMMUNITY, THE SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY OR JUST CITYWIDE LIKE COLLABORATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT VICTIMS KNOW THAT YOU KNOW,  THESE ADVOCATES ARE THERE EVEN THOUGH OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE ALREADY OVERWORKED.  BUT HOW DO WE GET THAT COMMUNICATION OUT THERE? YES. SO THE ADVOCATES WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THEIR AREA SPECIFICALLY AND SO THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE AWARE THEY GO TO THEIR MEETINGS. A LOT OF THEM HAVE LIKE QUARTERLY MEETINGS. THE ADVOCATES ATTEND THOSE. SOME ARE STILL VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM. SO THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS KIND OF WORK WITH US. SO SOMETIMES A VICTIM WILL GO TO A COMMUNITY GROUP AND THEY WILL BE REFERRED TO OUR ADVOCATE IF YOU KNOW IF THEY'VE LATER DECIDED THEY MAYBE WANT TO REPORT A CRIMINAL A CRIME. SO WE DO KIND OF WORK BACK AND FORTH.  AND COULD YOU SPEAK TO LIKE BRIGHTON ALLSTON THE AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE ONE IS THAT WHERE THE OVERTIME WOULD KICK IN OR ARE THEY USING THEIR OVERTIME ALREADY FOR THE CASES THEY HAVE IN THEIR DISTRICTS?  I BELIEVE THE GOAL OF THE OVERTIME IS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE IN THOSE DISTRICTS THAT DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN DEDICATED ADVOCATES.  THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. AND IS THERE A YOU AWARE OF HOW THE BREAKDOWN IS DECIDED?  LIKE WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS KNOWING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO COVER ALL DAY?  DO WE KNOW? YOU JUST THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN THOSE DISTRICTS AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN MORE HIRED. NO, WE DO DO IT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO IT IS BASED ON THE REPORTED INCIDENTS TO THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IF A VICTIM GOES DIRECTLY TO THE QUARRY TO GET A RESTRAINING ORDER, WOULD THEY BE CONNECTED TO THEIR DISTRICT ADVOCATE OR WOULD THAT STAY IN THE DA'S LEVEL? THAT WOULD STAY AT THE D.A.. OKAY. I GUESS THE THE LAST IS IS THERE A TRAINING PROVIDED AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS GRANT COVERS IT. I MEAN $145,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY BUT IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE SEX. BUT IS THERE A TRAINING PROVIDED TO THE ADVOCATES OR TRAINING ALONGSIDE ALSO THE POLICE FORCE BECAUSE THEY DO WORK CLOSELY I WOULD THINK WITH. YES. SO WE TRAIN ALL OF OUR ADVOCATES, THEY GO THROUGH THE PTC WHICH IS A MASS POLICE TRAINING COUNCIL. THEY GO THROUGH THAT DV CURRICULUM AS WELL SO THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT THE OFFICERS ARE, WHAT THE STANDARD RESPONSE IS AND THEN THEY CAN WORK WITH THE OFFICERS AND WITH THE DETECTIVES KNOWING WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE IS . THEY ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS. SO SOMETIMES THE COMMUNITY GROUPS LIKE CASIMIR HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT ABOUT PROVIDING SOME OTHER TRAINING FOR US SO WE DO THAT AS THE OPPORTUNITIES ARISE.  OKAY. THANK YOU. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES OR MY CLOSING STATEMENTS GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.  SO SO WE DON'T HAVE ADVOCATES IN A1 IN INDI FOR IS THAT IS THAT ACCURATE? I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET SUPPORTED ADVOCATES IS LIKELY GOING TO BE TAKING OVER A1 SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE COVERED. BUT D4 WHICH IS THE BACK BAY SOUTH END AREA DOES NOT. OKAY. THOSE ARE THOSE ARE MY DISTRICTS AS WELL A1 OBVIOUSLY THE THE THE STATION IS DOWN HERE AT NEXT TO CITY HALL DOWN THE STREET FROM CITY HALL AND IT COVERS OBVIOUSLY CHARLESTOWN AND IT ALSO COVERS CHINATOWN.  IT IS KIND OF REMOTE TO GET TO FROM CHINATOWN TO TO THE A1 STATION ESPECIALLY FOR IN MY OPINION FOR SOMEONE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THE CITY ALL THAT WELL IT CAN BE CONFUSING BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENSURE THAT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT ARE IN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY AND I KNOW THE ASIAN TASK FORCE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMING AND BUT ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS IS LANGUAGE ACCESS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT UNIQUE LANGUAGES.  BUT HOW WILL WE ENSURING THAT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY ARE ALSO HEARD AND RESPECTED?  YEAH, LIKE YOU SAID, WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH A TASK AND THEY DO SOME GREAT PROGRAMING ALL OF OUR ADVOCATE SO THROUGH THIS GRANT WITH THE OVERTIME THEY DO COVER EVERYONE AND THEY REACH OUT TO ALL THOSE ADVOCATES THEY DO USE THE LANGUAGE LINE AND SOME OTHER SERVICES THAT CAN HELP TRANSLATE AS WELL TO KIND OF REACH THEM IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.  COULD COULD I ASK COULD I ASK A FAVOR? COULD I ASK THAT WE HIRE SOMEONE THAT SPEAKS CANTONESE FULL TIME AND I KNOW YOU GUYS COULDN'T MAKE ANOTHER DECISION MAKERS BUT THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST THAT WILL DEFINITELY GET RELAYED.  OKAY. OKAY. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE BUT DO WE DO WE HAVE ANY ONE IN THE BOSTON POLICE ON THAT WORKS IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT THAT SPEAKS CANTONESE? I CAN'T BE SURE OF THAT. I'M SORRY. OKAY.  THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR ME TO ENSURE THAT WE WE DO HAVE SOMEONE AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE YOUNG THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMAN POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE THAT ARE ASIAN, THAT ARE CHINESE AND THEY THEY DO SPEAK. SOME OF THEM DO SPEAK CANTONESE AND THERE ARE EXCEPTIONAL OFFICERS AS WELL.  BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OUTREACH TEAM IN BOSTON POLICE THAT DOES SPEAK CANTONESE.  SO THEN MY OTHER MY OTHER QUESTION IS D FOR WHICH WHICH WHICH IS THE CELL PHONE AND BACK BAY AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA AS WELL UM TELL ME WHAT THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES MIGHT BE AT D FOR AS IT RELATES TO NOT HAVING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT PERSONNEL THERE.  YEAH I MEAN LOCATION AND CONVENIENCE OF ACCESS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH NOT HAVING AN ADVOCATE SIT AT DISTRICT FOUR WHICH IS CENTRALLY LOCATED IT KIND OF RIGHT IN THE SOUTH END WHICH WOULD BE CONVENIENT FOR A LOT OF VICTIMS.  SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE INTERESTED IN IN TRYING TO GET MORE STAFFING FOR . THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PHONE NUMBERS. THERE ARE A LOT OF HOTLINES THAT THEY CAN CONNECT WITH REMOTELY WITHOUT GOING INTO A PHYSICAL STATION BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS NICE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A FACE TO FACE CONNECTION AND SO THEY CAN GO INTO THE DISTRICT FOR STATION,  THEY CAN SPEAK TO A DETECTIVE. WE JUST DON'T PHYSICALLY HAVE AN ADVOCATE. THEY CAN SIT THERE AT THE MOMENT. OKAY.  BECAUSE ONE OF THE QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK WILL DIFFER OBVIOUSLY ON HARRISON AVENUE KIND OF ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CATHEDRAL PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ROUTE BERKELEY DEVELOPMENT IN I GUESS I GUESS MY QUESTION IS ARE WE ABLE TO GET SOMEONE HIRED THERE ALSO FULL TIME? AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR ME IS KNOWING THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE THERE.  BUT BUT I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO ONE OF YOUR POINTS THAT YOU MADE THAT YOU DO WORK WITH FENWAY COMMUNITY HEALTH. YES. AND I KNOW FENWAY COMMUNITY HEALTH DOES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE ON THE LGBT PLUS COMMUNITY AND I THINK FENWAY HEALTH DOESN'T EXCEPTIONAL JOB IN OUTREACH BUT I ALSO KNOW IN INDY FOR THAT WE DO HAVE A LARGE POPULATION WITHIN THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY AS WELL.  IS THAT ALSO AN ISSUE IN D AND HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY ARE HEARD THAT THEY RECEIVE THE RESOURCES AND WHAT STEPS DO YOU WANT TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR PART ENDED UP WHAT THEY WHAT SOME SERVICES?  YES. SO THEY'RE JUST LIKE ALL VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.  RIGHT. AN ADVOCATE KIND OF REVIEWS THE CASE AND SEES WHICH SERVICES MAY BE MORE BENEFICIAL AND IN THE CASE WITH THAT COMMUNITY THEY DO REFER THEM TO SERVICES THAT HAVE A FOCUS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY SUCH AS FENWAY HEALTH . BUT THERE'S A FEW OTHERS WE WORK WITH AS WELL THAT PROVIDE SERVICES SPECIFIC LIKELY THAT THEY MAY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THAN SOME OF THE GENERAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES PROVIDED. IS THERE IS THERE SOMEONE IN BOSTON POLICE THAT THAT SUPPORTS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? SPECIFICALLY THROUGH OR FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY?  NOT CURRENTLY SO ALL OF THE VICTIMS ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSIGNED TO THE ADVOCATES BASED ON THEIR LOCATION BUT THEY ALL OF THE ADVOCATES REGARDLESS OF LOCATION DO WORK WITH THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS. WAS THERE AT ONE TIME SOMEONE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED SOMEONE SPECIFICALLY DETAILED TO SUPPORT THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? I CAN'T SAY. OKAY. OKAY.  MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT GOING FORWARD. I DO THINK THERE'S A CRITICAL NEED FOR IT AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT POSITION TO FILL. I WOULD BE CURIOUS YOU HAD ANY IDEAS OF THOUGHTS? MAYBE I CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH BUT DO ANY OTHER LARGE CITIES ACROSS AMERICA HAVE A DESIGNATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OUTREACH COORDINATOR SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY?  BUT IT'S SOMETHING I WOULD BE I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING I WOULD SUPPORT BUT BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR EXCEPTIONAL WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, YOUR HONESTY AND INTEGRITY AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES SUCH AS YOURSELF . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONSOLES ONE WE HAVE ENJOINED BY COUNCIL OVERALL BUT I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCIL WEBER NEXT. OKAY. THANK YOU.  WELL AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND I GUESS CAN YOU JUST DESCRIBE I THINK MY SENSE IS THAT THERE ARE ADVOCATES AT THE DA'S OFFICE AND HOW YOU WORK TOGETHER OR IF AT ALL AND DOES THAT YOU ARE THERE ARE OTHER ADVOCATES ALONG THE LINE AND MAYBE THE AT THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE I HAVE NO IDEA WHO HELP FILL IN GAPS THAT YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY OF YOU KNOW FIVE PEOPLE COVERING THE WHOLE CITY IS NOT ADEQUATE.  BUT I HAVE TALKED TO THAT. YES.  THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ALSO HAS ADVOCATES FOR VICTIM SERVICES. SO WE WORK WITH THEM. WE WORK WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE VERY CLOSELY. SO WE WORK KIND OF AS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH OUR THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR DETECTIVES AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AS WELL AS THE BOSTON POLICE ADVOCATES AND THE DA'S OFFICE ADVOCATES. OKAY.  YOU KNOW HOW MANY THEY THEY HAVE THE DA'S OFFICE I DON'T I'M SORRY. OKAY. YEAH, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OTHER THAN YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF US MAKING THE CASE FOR WHY WE NEED THIS FUNDING AND WE WANT IT TO CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, AS AND ARE THERE ANY ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THIS SPACE WHO MAY BE BENEFITED FROM THESE SERVICES IN THE PAST? YOU KNOW, WHO DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD CONNECT WITH WHO CAN TALK ABOUT IT? RIGHT. YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THESE SERVICES ARE?  I'M NOT SURE.  ARE YOU LOOKING FOR LIKE KIND OF TESTIMONIALS FROM SURVIVORS ? YEAH. I MEAN IT'S A YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT IF IF WE WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, HELP ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE I THINK YOU KNOW, HEARING STORIES IS THE IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW I MEAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT YOU KNOW FURNISH ANY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM INFORMATION.  HOWEVER, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY GROUPS DO HAVE SURVIVORS WHO ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THEIR STORY AND SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY.  AND SO WE COULD CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS IF THEY HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD VOLUNTEER AND BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.  BUT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE WE WOULD NEVER REQUEST ANY VICTIMS. YEAH. NO I SO COUNCILMAN MIRANDA AND YOU KNOW THE OTHER YEAH AND YEAH I MEAN WE CAN LOOK THROUGH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH VERY CLOSELY BUT A LOT OF THEM DO HAVE SURVIVORS THAT HOLD COMMUNITY GROUPS AND SPEAK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ARE FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING OPEN WITH THEIR STORIES BUT THAT WOULD BE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY REACH OUT AND AND MAKE CONTACT AND SEE IF ANYONE WOULD BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE. OKAY.  YOU KNOW, I JUST MAYBE GOING FORWARD TELLING THEIR STORIES AND YOU KNOW, SHOWING THAT IF IF FUNDING LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE SUSPENDED, UH, YOU KNOW, THEN WHO IT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTING AND WHOSE STORIES WE WON'T BE HEARING IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO COME FORWARD AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP THEM BUT. OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR THANK YOU, COUNSELOR. WHERE THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE SERVICE THAT YOU BRING TO THE CITY OF BOSTON.  I GUESS ONE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS KIND OF GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WHAT IS THE POLICE LIKE? YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FOLLOW UP ROLE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN AN ATV CASE.  LIKE HOW OFTEN DO WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE SURVIVOR? YOU KNOW, ARE WE THERE THAT SURVIVOR WANTS TO LEAVE LIKE SHE TALKED TO ME ABOUT ANY COORDINATION OR FOLLOW UP FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.  YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WHEN A CASE OR WHEN SOMEONE MAKES IN AN INCIDENT REPORT REGARDING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT, IT IS ASSIGNED TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DETECTIVE AS WELL AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE. AND I MEAN I MEAN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DETECTIVE DO WE HAVE DO WE HAVE SO WE HAVE 16 SWORN STAFF BUT THAT INCLUDES SUPERVISORS.  SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE 12 DETECTIVES. 12 DETECTIVES. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE THE FIVE ADVOCATES SO BOTH THE DETECTIVE AND THE ADVOCATE REACH OUT TO THE VICTIM AND THEY BOTH PROVIDE KIND OF A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF SERVICES. HOWEVER, THE ADVOCATES HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND PROVIDE MORE IN-DEPTH RESOURCES THAT CAN BENEFIT THE VICTIMS. THE DETECTIVES MAKE CONTACT AND OBVIOUSLY CONDUCT THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR THAT PART BUT THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ADVOCATES IN HELPING WITH ANY SAFETY PLANNING OR HOUSING ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE ONGOING CONTACT WITH THE DETECTIVE LESS GENERALLY THROUGH THE COURT CASE BUT THE ADVOCATES MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE VICTIMS BASICALLY AS LONG AS THE VICTIMS WANT TO MAINTAIN CONTACT. GOT IT. AND THEN THE ADVOCATE CAN PULL IN THE DETECTIVE BACK AT ANY MOMENT EVEN AFTER THE COURT CASE.  ABSOLUTELY. YES. OKAY. FOR LIKE ANY SAFETY MEASURES? YES.  AND THEN I GUESS ONE OF MY QUESTION TO MY LAST QUESTION WOULD BE AROUND I KNOW CASIMIR AND I GOT BROUGHT UP TO BE BEING A SERVICE PROVIDER IN THIS AREA, BUT ARE THERE ANY GAPS THAT YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT AND FAILING?  I MEAN WE ONLY HAVE FIVE YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY YOU'VE ONLY NAMED ONE ORGANIZATION ALTHOUGH I KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY MORE OUT THERE BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME GAPS THAT YOU KNOW YOU CAN IDENTIFY FOR US?  SO THERE IS A KIND OF A PLETHORA OF SERVICES THAT ARE USED IN SOME ARE BIGGER CASSO MURDER HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE VERY LARGE ONES. THEY OPERATE THE STATEWIDE DV HOTLINE SO THEY'RE THE BIGGEST PROVIDER IN THE CITY OF BOSTON FOR FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.  HOWEVER WE USE A LOT OF SMALLER ONES THAT ARE A PHAB IS THE ASSOCIATION OF HAITIAN WOMEN IN BOSTON AND THEY WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AS WELL . EIGHT TASK IS WITH THE ASIAN COMMUNITY SO THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALLER RESOURCES THAT HAVE SORT OF CULTURALLY BIGGER POPULATIONS IN CERTAIN AREAS AND SO WE WORK WITH FENWAY HEALTH SO THERE IS A VARIETY OF SERVICES IN SOME AREAS AND SOME ADVOCATES BASED ON THEIR LOCATION AND THE POPULATIONS THAT THEY SERVE AT WORK WITH OTHER SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THAT AREA. GOT IT. AND ANY GAPS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS NOT BEING ABLE TO COVER MORE? I MEAN ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I COULD SEE IS PROBABLY LIKE JUST INCREASING THE CAPACITY ON OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SIDE BUT ON ADVOCACY SIDE. BUT YOU KNOW, ANY GAPS OR CHALLENGES? I MEAN HOUSING IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, RIGHT? THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER OF HOUSING WITHIN THE CITY AND WITHIN THE STATE. SO THAT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE IS WORKING TO FIND ESPECIALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY PLANNING THAT PEOPLE THAT POTENTIALLY NEED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES. RIGHT. THAT THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGER CHALLENGES BUT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF RESOURCES SO WE USE MORE THAN ONE KIND OF AVENUE TO SEARCH THOSE OUT. BUT I MEAN THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST ONE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. THANK YOU FOR THIS GOOD INFORMATION. I DID JUST HAVE A QUESTION WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT SOME OF THE GRANTS ARE COVID FUNDED AND WILL EXPIRE JUNE 30TH, DO YOU KNOW JANNA OTHERS ACROSS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WILL EXPIRE BECAUSE THEY'RE CURRENTLY BEING FUNDED THROUGH COVID? THERE ARE SEVERAL.  HOW MANY DO I KNOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE GRANTS THAT ARE COVID FUNDED THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO? I MEAN THERE'S ALSO IT'S NOT JUST A COVID. GRAHAM WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE MANY, MANY, MANY POSITIONS ON DIFFERENT FEDERAL GRANTS IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SPECIFICALLY THE ONES THAT ARE YEAH, BECAUSE WE KNOW COVID IS GOING TO AND COVID IS OUT THERE GOING RIGHT? SO WHAT OTHER SUPPORTS AND LIKE WE SAID EARLIER MANY TIMES WE USE THESE GRANTS TO FUND STAFFING SO WE CAN HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS AND GREAT IDEAS BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF AND I'M NOT AWARE OF OTHER STAFF SUPPORTED BY THOSE GRANTS BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT THERE BUT I COULD CHECK AND GET BACK TO YOU AND ALSO ON THE LINE OF QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILOR FLYNN HAD, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO YOU KNOW, PUT IN SOME REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ON THE BUDGETING ONES AROUND WANTING TO UM, YOU KNOW, INCREASE MAYBE HAVE THE CANTONESE OR THE OTHER AS YOU SAID SO I'LL WORK ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS SO IT'S COMING FROM US ALSO NOT JUST YOU GOING BACK ADVOCATING AND WE DO HAVE THE CHAIR A WAYS AND MEANS HERE BUT COUNCIL WERE WELL THEY WERE SAYING EARLIER THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY FIVE SO LIKE BRIGHTON ALLSTON SOUTH AND D4 THEY DON'T HAVE AN ADVOCATE AT ALL AND JUST OTHER GAPS JUST OF THE FUNDING THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO SO THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE AN ADVOCATE AT THE MOMENT. SO THERE THERE'S DEFINITELY GAPS ALREADY. SO HOWEVER WE CAN SUPPORT TO GET IT ON THE OPERATING BUDGET AND NOT BEING FUNDED THIS WAY I THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR NO. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER I'LL JUST THANK YOU FOR THEIR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AND NOW AWESOME THANK YOU. AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC TESTIMONY, CORRECT? OKAY. THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS AND THE HEARING ON DOCKET 0293 IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU