Thank you, Council President. Thank you guys for being with us today. I'm going to be quick. I've been meeting with different providers and there's some questions that I'm just trying to get on the record for clarity. Can you please share with us if the -- if the sheriff's office uses the protection from abuse database to track services of enforcement of PFAs? I heard -- I heard the sheriff mention earlier that you guys -- SHERIFF BILAL: Yeah. Our warrant unit, and Nobles is the inspector of our warrant unit. And because we have the PFAs protection from abuse order and the PFAD system, that's what you're talking about. That's why she's up here.
Okay. SHERIFF BILAL: Because she does deals with that. Kind of bring everybody that's in charge of what you're asking. Go ahead.
Yes, we deal with PFA. What was the exact question? Did you -
I just wanted to confirm that you actually -- if you use it or if you don't?
And if you don't, then I just was trying to figure out how do you track the PFAs that you actually deliver? And then Philadelphia's PFA service success rate is percent. 12 Acknowledging population 13 differences, the four count around for -- the four counties around Philadelphia, they have the other -- those other counties have a 61 percent success rate and a 45 percent success rate. Can you share what actions you have taken to increase Philadelphia's PFA service success rate? SHERIFF BILAL: We have that I think listed in our term report as to exactly the amount of increase of success rate in reference to that. I think --
And why is it that ours is much lower than the surrounding counties? SHERIFF BILAL: We probably can give you ours, but did -- we base it on what other counties around. I think that's one of the other articles. We can tell you what we've done. And we looked at other counties, but our success rate in it is a lot higher than what it was before.
So when you compare the -- when you compare the -- when you compare that work of the surrounding counties to that of Philadelphia, what is the difference? Are -- do we have a higher number of PFAs? Do they have a higher number of PFAs? And is that where the discrepancy or the difference is? Why is there such a huge difference? SHERIFF BILAL: Well, because surrounding counties are a lot smaller than Philadelphia County. That's the difference in that. Their counties are a lot smaller and they have less than whatever domestic situations may go on there. Plus they -- if their people are here or there are, we have to go there to serve them, we sort of, like, collaborate together to make sure whatever PFAs in the state of Pennsylvania that we can send ours to there, they can send ours -- theirs to us. But we do use the PFAD system and so we track it through there. But we do have that information in our term report, and I'll make sure you get the surrounding county numbers and what the difference. But what we saw is the surrounding counties are a lot smaller than what City of Philadelphia is.
Okay. And does the sheriff convene or participate in collaborative PFA service and enforcement work groups that include representatives from the Philadelphia courts, DA's office, Philadelphia PD, and the four DV programs serving the city? SHERIFF BILAL: Do we --
-- in those work groups. And what have you all -- how have you guys started to work collaboratively? Like what are -- what are some of the initiatives that you do be beyond just the PAF -- PFA work? I'm sorry. SHERIFF BILAL: I think this -- Thornton, are you in that group with Molly and them in reference to PFAS and all that? Or you --
Yeah. I'm in a group with that. And just recently we presented to the sheriff domestic violence task force for -- that's working through the warrant unit. We are always on line with them also working with the firearms unit with the detectives.
-- education, prevention. What are some of those things that you all work on together? How do you all better serve victims that are in your respective spaces?
Basically, we get together with the police to make sure that we both aren't serving the same warrant -- PFAs, therefore that we can widespread our resources faster in order to make sure that all the PFAs is being served. Also with the bringing the guns back, that we are working with the Gun Enforcement Unit to collaborate with, to get the guns off the street when they have PFAs. SHERIFF BILAL: So we are working with all the groups that are dealing with PFAs, relinquish guns, protection from abuse order. Our warrant are the leaders in that. And when she said, we just put together what we call a protection from abuse unit within the warrant unit. We have the different groups within our warrant unit to make sure that every protection from a use order that comes into us, gets served, gets served timely, and to make sure that people are understood what their rights are in that area.
Right. SHERIFF BILAL: So that's why we come together and we work with the Women Against Abuse. We have those monthly meetings, I think with Molly that you may have. Our warrant unit participate in all these meetings. So we are trying to make sure that we work together on all these things.
But as part of this work group, what I'm trying to get is, you all are serving victims, right? So what is the -- what is the priorities of this work group?
Let's bring it home. SHERIFF BILAL: What's the priority of the work group? That's what she's asking when you-all meet, what are they talking about?
Making sure that everyone is being served. And if it is a gun that's related to the PFA, that we're collecting the weapons.
Thank you. And I suggest you continue to have a follow up conversation if you have any additional questions, Councilmember Lozada?
Just want to thank you for your testimony today, Sheriff Bilal, for your team being here, and thank you very much. And make sure we all have all the documents as well regarding the budget and so forth. Just for us to review as well and compare with the administration. With that being said, the Chair recognizes Majority Leader Gilmore- Richardson for a motion to recess.
It has been moved and properly seconded that The public hearing and committee -- and meeting on the bills and resolutions before the committee stand in recess until Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor signify by saying aye? COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and we stand in recess until Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., at which time we will reconvene in room 400. Thank you, everyone, for being here today. (Public hearing and meeting on bills and resolutions concluded at 4:30 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me of the above case, and this copy is a correct transcript of the same. _______________ Samanda J. Rios