To

Mayor and Council

Subject

2010 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant Program

Initiator

District Attorney's Office - Victim-Witness Assistance Program

Recommendation

Approval is requested to authorize the District Attorney?s Victim-Witness \n \n Assistance Program to submit and if approved, accept a grant for $84,838 from \n \n the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating along with $16,968 from the 5% Crime \n \n Victim Surcharge Fund allocated in the FY11 Budget to provide funding for Crime \n \n Victim Assistance in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from October 1, 2010 to \n \n September 30, 2011. The additional $4,242 will consist of the program?s In-Kind \n \n Match contributed by required volunteer hours, donated counseling services and \n \n the use of office space within the Columbus Government Center.

Approval

Approved

Background

In July of 1989, the District Attorney began operating a Crime Victim

Assistance Program. In October of 1992, the Crime Victim-Witness Assistance

Program was awarded the first Crime Victim Assistance Grant, thereby broadening

the program for the provision of basic services. In July of 1995, additional

funds were received from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund, thus allowing the

program to expand services to the 6 counties within the Chattahoochee Judicial

Circuit. Successful grant allocations since that time have allowed the program

to flourish and as of September 2010, there exist 5 full-time victim advocate

positions and 3 temporary/part-time victim advocate positions.

Analysis

For FY11, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has allocated $84,838 for

the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit to support the Crime Victim-Witness

Assistance Program for the grant year October 1, 2010 through September 30,

2011. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires a match of $21,210. Of

that required match, $16,968 is to be a Cash-Match and $4,242 will be In-Kind

contributions of volunteer hours, donated counseling services and rental space.

The District Attorney requests Council?s authorization to utilize $16,968 from

the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds



The total amount of $106,048 represents the operating budget for salaries and

wages of two full-time victim advocate positions with benefits and one

part-time victim advocate position without benefits.



Grant Funded Crime Victim Advocates

VICTIM ADVOCATE #1 (Full-Time):

Salary - $32,451.12

FICA - $2,482.51

Medicare - $454.32

Health ? $5,400.00

Life Insurance - $162.26

Retirement ? $5,192.18

VICTIM ADVOCATE #2 (Full-Time):

Salary - $31,659.68

FICA - $2,421.97

Medicare - $459.07

Health ? $5400.00

Life Insurance - $158.30

Retirement ? $5,065.55

VICTIM ADVOCATE #3 (Part-Time):

Wages Per Grant Year - $13,520.00

FICA - $1,034.28

Financial Considerations

The grant-funding total is $106,048 with the Federal allocation of $84,838,

along with $16,968 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund and $4,242 from an

In-Kind Match. The required In-Kind Match is provided from volunteer hours,

donated counseling services and the provision of office space.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

Georgia Law requires the District Attorney provide extensive services,

information and notification to crime victims. (O.C.G.A.-17-17-1) The District

Attorney is solely and directly responsible for complying with this law as

mandated by the Victims? Bill of Rights. Legislature acknowledges that this

mandate places additional burdens on prosecutors and have designed laws

enabling utilization of the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund to assist in easing

said burdens.

Recommendations/ Actions

Authorize submission and if approved, acceptance of a grant in the amount of

$84,838 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to continue the

Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. This

action will provide funding for two (2) full time Crime Victim Advocate

positions and one (1) part time Crime Victim Advocate position for the

2010-2011-grant period.



A RESOLUTION

NO._____

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, ON BEHALF

OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND, IF APPROVED, TO ACCEPT A VOCA GRANT OF $84,838

FROM THE GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALONG WITH $16,968 FROM

THE 5% CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE SURCHARGE FUND ALLOCATED IN THE FY11 BUDGET, TO

PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL

CIRCUIT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2010 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2011, AND AMEND THE

MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT.



WHEREAS, the District Attorney is requesting the acceptance of a VOCA Grant in

the amount of $84,838, to be allocated over a twelve month period from the

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to support innocent victims of violent

crime under the 1996 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), along with $16,968 from the

5% Crime Victim Assistance Surcharge Fund allocated in the FY11 Budget for

salaries and benefits; and,



WHEREAS, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires that 20% of the

grant come in the form of a match and 25% of that be an In-Kind Match to be met

through the use of volunteers, donated professional counseling services and

office space, located at 100 Tenth Street, First Floor, West Wing, Columbus,

GA 31902. All figures are based on a twelve month period; and,



WHEREAS, the funding will be used to maintain two full time Crime Victim

Advocate positions and one part time Crime Advocate position, funded in the

FY11 grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Grant funding will

provide crime victim assistance services in Chattahoochee County, Harris

County, Marion County, Talbot County, Taylor County and Muscogee County; said

services being mandated by Georgia Law; and,



WHEREAS, the District Attorney will continue to supervise the operation of the

Crime Victim Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from

October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.



NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:



That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit and if approved,

accept a grant of $84,838 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating

Council along with $16,968 of the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds allocated in

the FY11 Budget to fund the Crime Victim Assistance Program which will extend

over a twelve month period beginning October 1, 2010 through September 30,

2011.



________________________________________









Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,

held the _____day of _____________, 2010 and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of _____ members of said Council.

Councilor Allen voting __________.









Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.

___________________________________ _____________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor

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