To

Mayor and Council

Subject

2017-18 VOCA Compensation Grant

Initiator

District Attorney/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 $48,649 or as \n \n otherwise awarded from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia \n \n allocated in the FY18 Budget to provide funding for Crime Victim Assistance in \n \n the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018. \n \n This Compensation Advocate Grant has a Match Waiver so there is no request for \n \n either a cash match or an In-Kind match. It is requested that the \n \n multi-governmental fund be amended by the amount awarded.

Approval

Pending

Background

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

Victim Assistance Program. In October of 1992, the 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 sustained the

program. The office currently employs a Director of Victim Services, two (2)

Victim Advocate Investigators and 9.1 Victim Advocates.

Analysis

If approved for FY18, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia will

allocate $48,649 to Columbus Consolidated Government to support the

Victim-Witness Assistance Program for the grant year October 1, 2017 through

September 30, 2018. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia is

waiving both the cash match and the In-Kind match for this grant.

The total amount of $48,649 represents the salary and full benefits for one (1)

position of Victim Advocate/Compensation Specialist who will provide

Crime-Victim Compensation education and outreach throughout the Chattahoochee

Judicial Circuit.

Grant Funded Victim Advocate/Compensation Specialist Full-Time Total=$48,649

? Salary $34,445

? FICA $2,635

? Retirement $5,739

Insurance $5,830

Financial Considerations

Since the match is waived, the award and total of $48,649 are the same.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

There will be no annual fiscal impact as a result of this grant.

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

$48,649 or as otherwise awarded from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

of Georgia, in order to reach out to crime victims and the general public with

education and information on Crime Victims Compensation. This action will

provide the funding for a Victim Advocate/Compensation Specialist to be in

place for at least the next three years renewable on an annual basis.

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