Archive for the ‘Public Safety & Justice’ Category

What Are Your Social Media Resolutions For 2013?

Posted: January 11, 2013, 3:14 pm

Although we’re already a week into the new year, it’s still not too late to consider some New Year’s resolutions for 2013. When it comes to deploying social media to connect with citizens and constituents, there’s no time like the present. If you’re having trouble getting a social media program off the ground, or trying to determine where to take your strategy next, here’s a few resolutions to consider.

Make it happen.

This should be obvious by now, but your citizens are active on social media. Whether it’s a grandmother keeping tabs on her grandkids from several states away or a college student making plans for Friday night, sites like Facebook and Twitter are not at the leading edge anymore. Social media is in the mainstream. According to Facebook’s data, 73% of those online in the United States have a Facebook page. If you have not considered deploying social media to help connect with citizens, you are missing a chance to interact with your constituents.

Overcome the objections.

It’s hard to find the staff to support social media postings. It’s difficult to track down interesting stories. We’ll be exposed to criticism from citizens.

There are always reasons to avoid kicking off a social media program, but if you prioritize it for your organization, there are always ways to overcome those issues. Use a free collaborative tool like Hootsuite to allow multiple employees to post to the same social media accounts. Encourage staffers and citizens alike to contribute their own content through e-mail reminders and even signs at key locations around town. Leverage the local paper for fresh daily content. Be prepared to use any citizen complaints as a moment to demonstrate exceptional customer service.

Keep things fresh.

Based on the time your organization can devote, determine a posting schedule, and stick with it. Maybe you’d like to try an ambitious daily posting schedule, or maybe twice a week makes more sense. Whatever you decide, use those dates as a guidepost to dictate your efforts. You may be surprised how easy it is to find content once you start leveraging searches on sites like Google, Flickr, Pinterest, or Twitter. Your citizens may be creating great photos, videos, or blog posts that deserve more exposure, which has the added benefit of engaging their creative sides and keeping your content stream active.

Have fun.

Social media can have some serious benefits, but it’s meant to be enjoyable. If you are enjoying the opportunity to share good information and communicate with citizens, that spirit will become infectious. However you choose to approach social media, it’s most important to have fun with it. Your audience will notice and maybe have a little fun themselves.

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Posted in Public Administration, Public Safety & Justice, Public Sector

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Reducing Recidivism with Technology

Posted: January 9, 2012, 4:19 pm

Recidivism is an issue that has grown increasingly relevant for the public safety community as state budgets continue to be stagnant and/or decline.   Recidivism is the return to crime, and is most frequently used to describe a person’s return to incarceration.  In one study by the U.S. Department of Justice, it was revealed that over two thirds of released prisoners were rearrested within three years (Reentry Trends, USDOJ).  Current estimates of the number of state housed inmates and prisoners were around 1.4 million as of January 2010 (Prison Count).  The average annual cost for a state to house an inmate and/or prisoner is roughly $26,000 (Schmitt, p.13).  Couple this with an annual 1.8% growth rate of incarcerated individuals over the last decade (Prison) and you get an annual increase of $650 million in prison costs.

This sizeable increase in the cost of operating jails and prisons is particularly difficult during the current economic times, where revenues have significantly declined and budget shortfalls are commonplace.   So how can states address the rising concern of recidivism?  Many have increased the number of incarcerated persons placed on parole and probation.  Nevertheless, supervising the estimated 5 million individuals under some type of parole and/or probation has its own associated costs (Prison).  In order to develop a real solution to stemming the rising tide of incarceration it is necessary to first gain a real understanding of the underlying causes and contributing factors to recidivism.

Grant funding related to jails over time has changed from a “bricks and mortar” focus on solely jail construction to a more proactive approach aimed at  understanding the prison population.  Today, the Department of Justice offers numerous grant programs that support state and regional initiatives aimed at data collection and information sharing across public safety domains.  Police departments, courts, jails, and parole/probation services are encouraged to work together to share information so that the underlying causes of recidivism can be both better understood and addressed. Grant programs such as the Criminal Justice Innovation Grant Program, Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, and Second Chance Act grants, among others, award millions of dollars annually for projects that utilize technology to better collect and analyze data related to jail populations.

The verdict is clear.  Prison related costs are rising, but so is the number of jail-related grant funding opportunities available to States and regions.  States and regions interested in SunGard’s Jail Management Systems, cross-jurisdictional records management systems, and other information sharing technologies would serve themselves well to become acquainted with the growing number of jail related grant programs offered through the federal government annually. To learn more about these programs, contact Erin Randall, SunGard Grants Specialist, at Erin.Randall@sungardps.com today.

Sources

Schmitt, John, et al.  “The High Budgetary Cost of Incarceration”.  Center for Economic and Policy Research.   June 2010. http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/incarceration-2010-06.pdf.

Portman, Senator Rob (Portland, Oregon).  “Cut Recidivism, Slash Spending”.
Politico.  Online Magazine.  14 December 2011.   http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70370_Page2.html.

“Prison Count 2010: State Population Declines for the First Time in 38 Years”.  Pew
Center on the States, The. Report Released 17 March, 2010. Update 1 April 2010.
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/report_detail.aspx?id=57653

“Prison and Jail Inmate Population Growth Slows”.  Correctional News. Online Article. 5 January 2010.  http://www.correctionalnews.com/articles/2010/01/5/report-prison-and-jail-inmate-population-growth-slows.

“Reentry Trends in the U.S.”  Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Last Revised 14 December 2011. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/reentry/recidivism.cfm.

Posted in Grant Funding, Public Safety & Justice

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Attend a Free Learning Event on Government Collaboration & Technology

Posted: November 3, 2011, 12:43 pm

On Tuesday, November 8 at 2 p.m. EST, SunGard Public Sector will once again present a free learning event to showcase the latest developments in leveraging technology to improve communication for local governments.

Steve Ressler (Founder and President of GovLoop) will discuss how GovLoop promotes and supports an online community of goverment innovators of all kinds from the federal, state, and local entities. Dicussion points include social media and government, creating innovation in government, and increasing citizen engagement.

This webinar is absolutely FREE to SunGard Public Sector customers interested in learning more about how to use technology to improve their collaboration in local government agencies. Register today. If you are not currently a SunGard Public Sector customer but would like to attend, please let us know.

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Posted in Collaboration & Info Sharing, Public Administration, Public Safety & Justice, Public Sector

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Funding Trends: Why & How Government Agencies are Starting Their Own Non-Profits

Posted: September 14, 2011, 12:44 pm

What do New York, Daytona Beach, El Paso, and Lynchburg Police Departments have in common?  Other than uniformed officers and marked cruisers, each agency established a non-profit organization to support their respective missions.  These non-profit police foundations are representative of a growing trend for governmental agencies: establishing non-profits to both boost community involvement and open funding opportunities.

The benefits of establishing a nonprofit to benefit a government agency are multifold, although most notably financial.  Over $40 billion is awarded annually by corporate and private foundations throughout the nation.  The main beneficiaries of this funding?  Nonprofit organizations.  Furthermore, the application process for corporate and private funding is oftentimes less complicated, less competitive, and less unpredictable than public funding counterparts found at the federal, state, and local levels.  As the 2012 economic outlook and public funding opportunities become bleaker, local governments would be wise to consider establishing their own nonprofit to better withstand this time of further budget reductions, layoffs, and postponed projects.

Establishing a nonprofit involves certain steps that can seem foreign and complicated. The truth of the matter is that the process does take time, but does not require specialized knowledge, insider information, or significant financial burden.   To date, there are over one million recognized nonprofits in the United States alone (according to National Center for Charitable Statistics) and if they can successfully complete the process so can just about anyone.  The procedure to establish a non-profit involves a series of steps that may vary slightly from organization to organization.  In brief, these steps are as follows:

  1. Develop a mission statement that outlines the organization’s purpose.
  2. Create a name for your nonprofit.
  3. Contact a lawyer to incorporate your organization’s name and file the articles of incorporation.
  4. Establish your bylaws.
  5. Select your board members and define their responsibilities and tasks.
  6. Apply for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
  7. Hold first meeting with the Board.
  8. Open a bank account in your non-profit organization’s name.

The time it takes to establish a nonprofit ranges from two months to two years, depending on how quickly forms are submitted and the IRS’ backlog.  The cost to establish a non-profit varies, but is on average around $2,000 depending on state’s filing costs and lawyer’s fees.  This fee is relatively nominal considering the new funding sources that will be available once nonprofit status is approved.   In this day and age, a $2,000 investment to access $40 billion in resources should be a no-brainer.  To learn more about establishing a nonprofit and SunGard Grants Services, contact Erin Randall at Erin.Randall@sungardps.com and/or visit the following websites.

Helpful Resources and Links:

NASCO: National Association of State Charity Officials
http://nasconet.org

Foundation Center

http://foundationcenter.org

Posted in Grant Funding, Public Safety & Justice

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Grant Funding: The Big Picture for Small Agencies

Posted: August 15, 2011, 1:20 pm

As a grant writer working with public safety and municipal agencies throughout the country, I frequently encounter skepticism regarding funding opportunities for smaller agencies.  The  viewpoint held by many of these agencies’ representatives is that agencies who serve large populations have an overwhelming advantage over agencies with more modest numbers of residents during the application review process.

This opinion is both true and untrue at the same time.  Who is eligible to apply and/or what types of projects are fundable vary by each and every grant program.  Some grants, like the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative, only provide funding to major metropolitan areas in each state.  Other grants, like HUD’s Sustainable Communities Planning Initiative, only  provide funding to projects that affect a set, high number of residents.  For small agencies considering these types of funding opportunities, the eligibility requirements automatically appear to exclude them from award potential.

The reality is that thinking creatively and being flexible can remove most barriers that smaller agencies face.  Take for instance the aforementioned Sustainable Communities Planning Grant.  A small agency can partner with surrounding municipalities and units of governments to achieve a sufficiently large cumulative population served and gain eligibility.  This approach has the added bonus of encouraging higher scoring during the review process because it encompasses a regional, collaborative approach.

In talking about today’s federal funding priorities and review process, most of the 26 federal grant making agencies are looking for projects that are innovative and replicable.  Innovative implies a new approach to an old problem.  Replicable means that the project is general and scalable enough that it can be implemented successfully in other cities and counties throughout the country.  Now consider that most cities and towns in the United States serve an average population of just over 43,000.  It makes sense that an agency serving a similar population would have the advantage of designing and implementing a project that is easily replicable throughout the country – a task that is otherwise challenging for a metropolis serving over 1 million.

So what have we learned about funding opportunities for smaller average-sized agencies?  First, that partnering with surrounding areas can provide a competitive edge over agencies serving large populations.  Secondly, that serving a “smaller” population can actually work in an agency’s favor as more grant programs emphasize replicability.

One final point of note for small agencies is that even those with populations way under the national average have funding opportunities that are designated just for them.  There are at least a dozen federal grant programs that provide funding only to rural agencies serving a population of 20,000 or less.  There is grant funding to build new public safety buildings, to acquire broadband, to secure green spaces, to improve service delivery, implement software, and much more – all only for rural agencies.  Identifying and securing funding, therefore, is truly a game that agencies of all sizes have to learn to play.  Being flexible, thinking strategically, and being aware of opportunities are important tools for any sized player in the search for grant funding.

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Posted in Grant Funding, Public Administration, Public Safety & Justice

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What the Debt-Ceiling Deal Could Mean for Local Governments

Posted: August 2, 2011, 3:16 pm

We have been inundated with breaking news, commentary, and predictions regarding the recent congressional/white house deliberation on raising the debt ceiling.  Whether or not you watched with interest or tuned out the coverage, the results of this debate and the agreement reached will have considerable consequences that will be felt by everyone in due time.  In summary, the bi-partisan package calls for a trillion dollars in spending cuts over the next ten years to balance the trillion dollar debt ceiling rise.  This sounds simple and reasonable enough on face value.  In action, however, determining where these cuts will be made and who they will ultimately affect will be decided by a divided Congress that contrasts over the parties’ separate ideological platforms.

There are certain stalwarts of the annual federal spending that remain somewhat untouchable in our current political climate. These cost centers typically include national defense and security, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), benefits for Federal retirees and veterans, and so-called safety net programs.  Together these cost centers comprise 88% of annual federal spending.  The remaining 12% include an array of public services that help maintain our roads, protect our environment, and ensure safety practices.  This 12% equals to roughly $4.2 billion in annual spending and is arguably the most nonessential of the spending categories.  Even if these programs were cut entirely, however, it would amount to only a small fraction of the promised 1 trillion in cuts.  So where will the other $994 billion be cut?

One probable candidate for spending reductions is grant funding, in the form of both federally administered grants and what is commonly referred to as a pass-through.  A pass-through is federal funding that is appropriated to states to either support state-level programs and/or reallocate to smaller units of government.  Federally administered grants and pass-through state funding represent around $400 billion in funding annually and are the primary sources of grant monies for local units of government.  As such, their potential reduction has significant ramifications.

A second viable candidate for spending cuts is the earmark, a monetary amount designated by a Congressional Representative for a particular project and tacked on to appropriations bills for approval.   In fiscal year 2011 alone, over 40,000 earmarks requiring over $131 billion in funding were requested.  In the last two years, earmarks have been given increasing attention as several efforts have been made to eliminate their existence in Congress altogether.    As Washington’s purse strings tighten and the political parties draw their lines in the sand, earmarks will surely come under fire again and reduce significantly.   While the legitimacy of earmarks is sometimes suspect, it is also true that the benefit they provide to communities and jurisdictions throughout the United States is undeniable.  Earmarks are one of the few, and arguably only, major sources of funding available to agencies for high cost projects.  The result of reducing and/or eliminating earmarks in the next several fiscal years is that local units of governments have one less source of funding available to support costly and oftentimes critical projects.

The combined expense of public service programs, pass-through funding, and earmarks is approximate to the trillion dollar in cuts promised.  If these areas are indeed reduced the real victims will be local units of government. Public safety providers and public administrations will feel the sting of the trillion dollars in cuts more than federal agencies and state governments, as ultimately money trickles down.  The less money there is to start with, the less money will reach the bottom rung of the governmental ladder.  In essence, the next decade will be a trying time for local and regional governments as they seek funding to replace aging infrastructure, manage changing needs, and remain responsive to their citizens’ needs.  While these predicted reductions are at this time only speculation, it is now more important than ever for local governments to think outside the box and seek new sources in terms of funding.

 

Posted in Grant Funding, Public Administration, Public Safety & Justice, Public Sector

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Free Learning Event on Government Collaboration and Technology

Posted: June 15, 2011, 2:10 pm

Join SunGard Public Sector on Thursday, June 30 at 2 p.m. EST for a free learning event to showcase how the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and the government employee social networking site GovLoop foster collaboration among all levels of government.

John Bienko, Deputy Director at the United States Small Business Administration, will discuss how the administration uses eLearning and online communities to provide service to hundreds of thousands of people and businesses they serve for free or for a nominal cost.

Steve Ressler (Founder and President of GovLoop) and Andrew Krzmrazick (Director of Community Engagement at GovLoop.com) will discuss how GovLoop promotes and supports an online community of goverment innovators of all kinds from the federal, state, and local entities. Dicussion points include social media and government, creating innovation in government, and increasing citizen engagement.

This webinar is absolutely FREE to SunGard Public Sector customers interested in learning more about how to use technology to improve their collaboration in local government agencies. Register today. If you are not currently a SunGard Public Sector customer but would like to attend, please let us know.

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Posted in Collaboration & Info Sharing, Public Administration, Public Safety & Justice, Public Sector

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Department of Homeland Security- Grant Funding Now Available!

Posted: May 26, 2011, 1:03 pm

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has at long last released funding for a wide variety of grant programs.  If you’re familiar with DHS grants, then you know the application period typically runs from January to December.  The reason behind the delay this year was the budget battle that played out in Congress, postponing the release of grant funding until formal federal budget approval.  If you are not familiar with DHS grants, rest assured that this does not prevent you from taking advantage of this potential funding source.  There are several details than any interested agency must know, particularly the due date, application requirements, and each grant program’s funding priorities.  Obtaining this information is as easy as reviewing each program’s guidelines.  However, having a true understanding of how to develop your request and ensure it scores well in the review process is insight the guidelines cannot provide.  For this information, I invite you to attend the upcoming Developing Your DHS Grant Request for 2011 Success.  This webinar will cover the application requirements, review past winning projects, and offer tips & tricks for developing a winning request.    Register to attend today!  Click here for more information.

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Posted in Customer News, Grant Funding, Public Safety & Justice

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Tazewell County, IL Agencies Go Live With SunGard’s OSSI Public Safety Solution

Posted: May 17, 2011, 2:30 pm

Four public safety agencies located in Tazewell County, IL have recently gone live on SunGard’s OSSI Public Safety Solution, as reported by the Peoria Journal Star. The agencies will utilize the OSSI Records Management System to centralize records in a central database and share information across jurisdictions.

Pekin Interim Chief of Police Greg Nelson said the system will save time and help ensure officer safety.

“What this means, for the first time ever, is free-flowing information between police departments,” said Nelson. “Criminals are mobile — they don’t live and operate in one town.

“It is foolish to think that we should work in isolation of each other.”

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Posted in Customer News, Public Safety & Justice

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Cayman Islands Emergency Dispatch Selects SunGard’s OSSI Public Safety Solution

Posted: March 17, 2011, 9:00 am

The Cayman Islands 911 Emergency Communications Centre has selected SunGard’s OSSI Public Safety Solution to provide technology applications for public safety, including Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) software.  The centre dispatches the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Emergency Medical Services, and Cayman Islands Fire Service, and according to the centre serves more than 50,000 citizens of the Cayman Islands representing a mix of more than 100 nationalities.

“With SunGard Public Sector, every implementation deadline and benchmark was met,” said Brent Finster, emergency communications manager for Cayman Islands Emergency Communications. “There were no delays or unforeseen issues. The employees were knowledgeable about their solution, and they managed expectations as to how it would resolve our needs.”

SunGard Public Sector’s OSSI Public Safety Solution will provide the Cayman Island Emergency Communications Centre with a fully integrated public safety software solution that will help increase productivity and accountability. SunGard Public Sector’s OSSI Computer-Aided Dispatch (OSSI CAD) system helps provide a fast, reliable way to manage and dispatch emergency calls, including integrated mapping, a graphical user interface, and hotspot notifications. OSSI CAD delivers leading-edge technology for today’s mission critical conditions and supports the perpetual demands of high-availability environments.

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