The Dane County Commission on Sensitive Crimes
The Dane County Commission on Sensitive Crimes (COSC) is an advisory commission created by Dane County Ordinance.
The Commission serves as a forum to discuss issues relating to sensitive crimes in Dane County, including, but not limited to, sexual assault, domestic/family violence, the abuse/exploitation of children, elder abuse, and sensitive crimes committed against people with disabilities, with particular attention to the impact on and issues affecting members of traditionally underserved communities. The COSC also serves as a forum for the county's four Coordinated Community Response (CCR) teams, which perform the majority of work related to discussing sensitive crimes issues in Dane County.
The website has extensive information regarding the work of each CCR, COSC meetings and priorities, and resources for victims of sensitive crimes in Dane County.
Commission Responsibilities
The COSC is charged with the following duties:
- Serve as a forum for the coordination of services related to sensitive crimes
- Assist Dane County in developing and coordinating policies relating to the prevention, treatment, investigation, and prosecution of sensitive crimes
- Maintain resources for the collection and dissemination of information relating to sensitive crimes
- Respond to issues identified by Dane County, including conducting studies and making recommendations
- Propose and analyze legislation and administrative procedures relating to sensitive crimes
- Recommend procedures to gather, analyze, and present statistical data concerning the incidence of sensitive crimes in Dane County.
Commission Structure and Membership
The COSC consists of 16 voting members, each of whom must be appointed by the County Executive and approved by the County Board of Supervisors. The COSC also has five non-voting members, each representing one of the four Community Coordinated Response teams.
The 16 voting members of the COSC are mandated by county ordinance and include:
- One member of the Madison Public Safety Review Board
- One member of the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee
- One member of the Health & Human Needs Committee
- A representative from the Dane County District Attorney's Office
- One representative from the Dane County Sheriff's Office
- One representative from the Madison Police Department
- One representative from the Dane County Department of Human Service
- A representative of an organizations that provides services to victims of domestic violence
- A representative of an organizations that provides services to victims of sexual assault
- A representative of an organizations that provides services to victims of child abuse and neglect
- A representative of an organizations that provides services to victims of elder abuse
- A representative of an organization focusing on anti-racism work
- A citizen who is informed about matters relating to the commission's areas of concern
- Another citizen who is informed about matter relating to the commission's areas of concern
- Another citizen who is informed about matters relating to the commission's areas of concern
- A designee of the University of Wisconsin Chancellor
Commission Meetings
Unless otherwise noted, COSC meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month from 8:30-10:00am and are open to the public. The COSC does not meet in August or December. Meetings are currently being conducted in a hybrid format, you can attend in person at the Aging & Disability Resource Center, in Room 109 (2865 North Sherman Ave. Madison, WI 53704) or via Zoom. All meeting information can be found on the Legislative Information Center.