Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: District Attorney
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): all
Acceptance of Victims of Crimes Act Grant to District Attorney’s Office
Body
Information Contact: Sherry Boston or Roz Harris
Phone Number: 404-371-4773
PURPOSE:
To consider accepting the annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in the amount of $463,464, for the District Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Program for the grant year October 01, 2017 - September 30, 2018; and
To consider the continuation of the nine Victim Advocate positions funded by the grant for the grant period, 10/1/17 through 9/30/2018; and
To create two additional Victim Advocate positions approved through this grant; and to
To approve the $24,471 in required match for the additional two positions; and to
To authorize the CEO to execute all necessary documents.
NEED/IMPACT:
The VOCA grant funds nine District Attorney’s Victim Advocate positions who are essential to providing a range of services to victims of crime required by the Crime Victims Bill of Rights, O.G.C.A. 17-17-1, including but not limited to notification of court dates, accompaniment to court, emergency safety planning, counseling, and referrals to community agencies. Through a competitive application process, the District Attorney’s Office was awarded two additional positions this year, with unofficial authorization that the grant would be renewed at least at the current level for a minimum of an additional three years. The creation of the two positions requires an additional $24,471 in cash match, which is being requested at this time.
The additional required match funds of $115,866 are maintained in 03810.573053.100, were included in the D.A’s 2017 budget, and are included at the same level in the D.A’s 2018 budget request.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The grant funding of two new positions requires a $24,471 match which is being requested at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Accept the annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in the amount of $463,464, for the District Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Program for the grant year October 01, 2017 - September 30, 2018; continue the nine Victim Advocate positions funded by the grant for the grant period, 10/1/17 through 9/30/2018; create two additional Victim Advocate positions approved through this grant; approve the $24,471 in required match for the additional two positions; and authorize the CEO to execute all necessary documents...