Mayor Freddie O'Connell Executive Order Number 040

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

Freddie O'Connell, Mayor

Executive Order 40

Subject: Office of Family Safety Advisory Committee

I, Freddie O’Connell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby find, direct, and order the following:

I. Interpersonal violence response is a priority for our city to address in a consistent and collaborative manner.

II. Interpersonal violence includes domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, as well as child, elder and vulnerable adult abuse.

III. It is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Government to maintain such procedures that may be necessary to reduce the incidents of interpersonal violence, hold offenders accountable, and reduce risk of harm and trauma to victims/survivors.

IV. There is hereby created an Office of Family Safety Advisory Committee.

The functions, membership, and meetings shall be as follows:

A. Composition of the Committee. The Committee shall consist of the following voting members:

1. The District Attorney General of Nashville-Davidson County;
2. The Director of the Metropolitan Department of Law or designee;
3. The Chief or Deputy Chief of Police;
4. A Domestic Violence specialized Circuit Court Judge;
5. A Domestic Violence specialized General Sessions Court Judge;
6. A Domestic Violence specialized Juvenile Court Judge or referee;
7. A Criminal Court Judge;
8. A representative of the Mayor’s Office;
9. Director of Criminal Justice Planning;
10. Chair of FSC Survivor Group (VOICES);
11. Child Protection Investigative Team (CPIT) Chair;
12. Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Chair;
13. High Risk Intervention Panel (HRIP) Chair;
14. Vulnerable Adult Protection Team (VAPIT) Chair;
15. Department Head of the Office of Family Safety; and
16. If not already or adequately represented, CEOs of nonprofits with a mission focused on domestic violence shelter provision, child abuse victim services, human trafficking victim services, sexual assault victim services, or elder and vulnerable adult victim services.

B. Special Resource Team.

In addition to the above voting members attending Committee meetings, in any issue wherein one or more other persons may be able to provide additional appropriate information, expertise, or guidance, the Committee may request the presence of a representative from any of the following entities:

1. A partner non-profit agency with a signed Memorandum of Understanding with Metro’s Office of Family Safety;
2. A Metropolitan Government Department;
3. A local or state domestic abuse or sexual assault coalition or victim advocacy group; and
4. An individual member of the judiciary.

C. Responsibility and Authority of the Committee.

1. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee, as appropriate, to review and advance select recommendations of any Nashville-Davidson County Interpersonal Violence Safety and Accountability Assessment, Domestic Abuse Death Review Report, and Interpersonal Violence Summit Recommendations;
2. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to promote collaboration among Metropolitan Government Departments and partner non-profit agencies in serving interpersonal violence victims;
3. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to receive and discuss community concerns regarding the Metropolitan Government’s policies and procedures regarding interpersonal violence cases within the Metropolitan Government’s law enforcement, judicial, and victim response systems;
4. Advise the Metropolitan Government on policies and procedures and legislative recommendations;
5. Support the objectives and mission of the Family Justice Centers (Jean Crowe Advocacy Center & Family Safety Center) and the Office of Family Safety; and
6. Form appropriate sub-committees as needed.

D. The duties and functions of the Committee include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Select and lead the implementation of the recommendations from Davidson County’s Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Assessment, ongoing recommendations of the Domestic Abuse Death Review Team, and any future Safety and Accountability Assessments performed by the Metropolitan Government on domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, or elder abuse;
2. Advise the Metropolitan Government on policies and procedures that affect domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse victims and their families;
3. Assist in the coordination and collaboration of all partner Metropolitan Government departments and non-profit agencies, in furtherance of the Metropolitan Government’s coordinated community response to domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse victims and their families;
4. Select agencies and departments to sign Memorandums of Understanding with the Metropolitan Government Office of Family Safety; and
5. Support the objectives and mission of the Family Justice Center(s) and the Office of Family Safety.

E. Protocol of the Committee.

The following procedures shall be adopted by the Committee:

1. The Office of Family Safety Department Head shall be the Chairperson;
2. The Chairperson shall convene meetings annually; and
3. The Chairperson will be responsible for setting the meeting agenda.

Ordered, Effective and Issued: January 17, 2024

Freddie O’Connell

Metropolitan County Mayor