STOCKTON — A city program aimed at reducing violence has been told by the San Joaquin County civil grand jury that it needs to improve itself to justify its existence.
The grand jury released its annual report this week, and it has recommended the Office of Violence Prevention be more transparent with the public about the work it does. In addition, the 19-member panel of residents said the OVP needs to change its internal organization and operations to better serve the community.
The investigation into the OVP comes after the grand jury received criticism from a citizen with knowledge of the OVP’s operations that prompted the investigation, the report states.
The citizen, who is unnamed in the report, claimed the program was not accountable to the residents of Stockton for its spending, and that the OVP had not been able to show proof that it had reduced gun violence, which was the reason for its formation, the report states.
The Stockton City Council has been given 90 days to submit its response to the presiding judge of the San Joaquin County Superior Court.
La Tosha Walden, OVP manager, was unavailable for comment on the report.
However, Stockton City Manager Kurt Wilson said in a statement via text through spokeswoman Connie Cochran that the report has been received by officials, and they are looking forward to fully analyzing the document.
“At first glance there are some factual errors that appear to form the basis for their recommendations,” the text message said. “The city will provide its formal response after a thorough review of the materials.”
During its investigation, the grand jury found the OVP had not been able to show statistically what it has been accomplishing in terms of helping clients access services, education, jobs, and other measures of success.
Although the OVP created a data dashboard earlier this year that provides information about its work, that information was not available to the public, and the OVP’s website had also not been updated, according to the report.
The grand jury has given the OVP until Dec. 31 to make the information available to the public, and has recommended it update the public on a regular basis.
There are eight Peacekeepers working in the OVP helping young men escape a life of violence and staying in touch with them, the report states. Earlier this year, they were divided into two groups of outreach workers and case managers, which some believed interfered with building long-term relationships with clients, according to the report.
The grand jury found that there are long-standing conflicts between employees, and because the OVP is spread across three different offices in Stockton, there is a negative effect on morale that has produced feelings of distrust and favoritism that management has not addressed or resolved.
The grand jury has recommended that all employees be in one location, and that management establish and enforce a code of conduct. In addition, the OVP has been given until Dec. 31 to reassess the decision to divide Peacekeepers and prove that it was necessary.
June 15, 2018
Stockton Record
By Wes Bowers
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