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-SAKI Advocate
Body
Information Contact: Sherry Boston or Roz Harris
Phone Number: 404-371-4773
PURPOSE:
To consider accepting $24,050 under the annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to the District Attorney’s Office’s Victim Assistance Program for the grant year October 01, 2019 - September 30, 2020 to fund a part-time, contract Victim Advocate; and
To authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute any necessary documents.
NEED/IMPACT:
The VOCA grant funds over half the staff in the District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program, providing services to victims of crime as 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. This new funding is for a part-time contract Victim Advocate to provide services to victims in cases being prosecuted under the federally funded Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) aged rape kit program in the District Attorney’s Office.
A waiver for the $6,013 required match has been requested, and the grantor has informed the District Attorney that there is a strong likelihood the waiver will be approved; henceforth, no additional funds are being requested at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A waiver for the $6,013 required match has been requested, and the District Attorney has been advised by the grantor that there is a strong likelihood it will be approved; henceforth, no additional funds are being requested at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Accept $24,050 under the annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to the District Attorney’s Office’s Victim Assistance Program for the grant year October 01, 2019 - September 30, 2020 to fund a part-time, contract Victim Advocate; and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute any necessary documents.