IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION recognizing the creation of the Jackson County COMBAT program on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 21254, April 24, 2023
INTRODUCED BY Donna Peyton, DaRon McGee, Megan L. Marshall, Jalen Anderson, Manuel Abarca IV, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer, and Sean E. Smith, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, in 1989 the Jackson County Legislature declared a "violent health epidemic" and, that same year, the voters of Jackson County made history by passing the nation's first-ever tax dedicated to addressing the drug and crime crisis; and,
WHEREAS, while this tax increased support for law enforcement, it also resulted in new prevention and treatment programs, setting Jackson County apart from most other communities across the country that concentrated exclusively on more policing; and,
WHEREAS, this unique, comprehensive approach to reducing drug abuse and crime coalesced in the spring of 1993 through the formation of a new administrative office called COMBAT, "Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax," tasked with providing direction to and encouraging collaboration among all funded agencies; and,
WHEREAS, COMBAT has for 30 years shifted the paradigm of the so-called "War On Drugs," from just fighting drugs and crime to helping people through supporting dozens of community programs annually and through introducing innovative initiatives, such as assisting crime survivors or diverting those with substance use disorders away from prosecution and into treatment through a nationally emulated Drug Court; and,
WHEREAS, COMBAT has expanded its data-driven Striving Together to Reduce Violence in Neighborhoods (STRIVIN') initiative into five different neighborhoods throughout Jackson County and created an innovative online social services referral program through which police, school administrators, social workers, faith-based leaders, elected officials, and concerned...
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