Title
Approval to Use $75,000 from Asset Forfeiture Funds for Jail Video System
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the expenditure of approximately $75,000 from the Asset Forfeiture Fund for replacement of the video system for the City Jail.
Body
Issue:
The current equipment is about 15 years old, failing, and no longer supported by the vendor.
Staff Contact:
Laura Wohl, Administrative Services Manager, Police Department, 360.753.8214
Presenter(s):
Laura Wohl, Administrative Services Manager, Police Department
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Police Department completed a large asset forfeiture process in late 2001 following criminal convictions in a homicide case. The net proceeds, $369,247, were placed in the Special Accounts Control Fund, Seizure and Forfeiture Account ("Asset Forfeiture Fund"). By statute, money seized and/or forfeited as a result of criminal behavior must be used "exclusively for the expansion and improvement of law enforcement activities," and the funds may not be used to supplant pre-existing funding sources (RCW 10.105.010). Use of the Asset Forfeiture Fund requires approval by the City Council.
The Department is seeking to utilize the Asset Fund to address a critical equipment need, the replacement of surveillance video within the City Jail. Video within the jail allows Corrections Officers to monitor multiple areas of the facility at one time. As such, it is a vital safety tool for both staff and inmates. It also serves to document incidents that occur in the jail which increases transparency of jail operations for the public and, when necessary, for the criminal justice or civil court system.
Current equipment is past its life-cycle, is failing, and is no longer supported by the vendor. The Department will be seeking equipment that yields high resolution recordings and an increased capacity for storing and managing the recordings. In addition, important changes to camera locations and fields of vision will be made.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
N/A
Options:
Option 1: Approve the expenditure of $75,000 from the Asset Forfeiture Fund for a jail video system.
Option 2: Do not approve expenditure of $75,000 from the Asset Forfeiture Fund for a jail video system and direct staff to explore other funding sources such as the General Fund or the Facility Maintenance Fund.
Financial Impact:
$75,000 of special Asset Forfeiture Fund funds.
After this expenditure, $59,732 will remain in the Fund.