THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY
MEGAN BARRY, MAYOR
Subject: Office of Family Safety Advisory Committee
I, Megan Barry, 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. Domestic Violence is a priority for our city to address in a consistent and collaborative manner.
II. It is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Government to maintain such procedures that may be necessary to reduce the incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse; to hold offenders accountable; and, to protect and reduce trauma to victims and their families.
III. There is hereby created an Office of Family Safety Advisory Committee. This Committee will replace what has previously been known under former Mayor Karl Dean’s Executive Order No. 044 as the Metropolitan Government Domestic Violence Executive 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;
3. The Chief of Police;
4. The Davidson County Sheriff;
5. A Domestic Violence specialized Circuit Court Judge or Special Master;
6. A Domestic Violence specialized General Sessions Court Judge;
7. A Domestic Violence specialized Juvenile Court Judge or referee;
8. A representative of the Mayor’s Office;
9. Director of Criminal Justice Planning;
10. Director of Finance or designee;
11. Department Head of the Office of Family Safety;
12. Director(s) of Metro’s Victim Advocacy Center(s); and,
B. Special Resource Team.
In addition to the above voting members attending Committee meetings, in any particular issue wherein one or more other persons may be able to provide additional appropriate information, expertise, or guidance, the Committee may request the non-voting presence of a representative from any of the following entities:
1. A partner non-profit agency with a signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Metropolitan Government or recipient of Metropolitan Government grant-funding;
2. A Metropolitan Government Department;
3. A local or state domestic abuse or sexual assault coalition or victim advocacy group;
4. A member of the judiciary; or,
5. The current chair of the Domestic Abuse Death Review Team.
C. Responsibility and Authority of the Committee.
1. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee, as appropriate, to identify, review, and implement the recommendations of Davidson County’s Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Assessment, the 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. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to advance the prioritization of victim safety, offender accountability, and the reduction of victim trauma, in the Metropolitan Government’s handling of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse cases, within the Metropolitan Government’s law enforcement and judicial systems.
3. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to promote collaboration among Metropolitan Government Departments and partner non-profit agencies in serving domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse victims;
4. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to receive and discuss community concerns regarding the Metropolitan Government’s policies and procedures regarding domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse cases, within the Metropolitan Government’s law enforcement and judicial systems.
5. Form appropriate sub-committees to advance the duties and responsibilities of 1-4 above;
6. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to monitor the service data related to the services provided at the Victim Advocacy Center(s) on a monthly basis.
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 quarterly meetings of the Committee.
3. The Chairperson will be responsible for setting the meeting agenda.
4. Family Justice Center Director(s) shall submit data reports related to victim services.
ORDERED, EFFECTIVE AND ISSUED:
Megan Barry
Metropolitan County Mayor
Date: December 20, 2017