To

Mayor and Council

Subject

2017-18 VOCA Continuation 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 $349,897 or as \n \n otherwise awarded from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia \n \n along with $68,874 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund allocated in the \n \n FY18 Budget to provide funding for Crime Victim Assistance in the Chattahoochee \n \n Judicial Circuit from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018. Along with an \n \n additional In-Kind Match of $18,600 to be contributed by volunteer hours, it is \n \n requested that the multi-governmental fund be amended by the amount awarded \n \n plus the local match.

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, a

Compensation Specialist and 11.1 Victim Advocates.

Analysis

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

will allocate $349,897 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

requires a 20% total match of $87,474; cash portion is $68,874 and In-Kind

portion is $18,600. The District Attorney requests Council?s authorization to

utilize $68,874 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds, which is the required

cash match.

The total amount of $437,371 represents the salary, full benefits and match for

two (2) Victim Advocate Investigators, seven (7) Victim Advocates and a minimal

portion to the Juvenile Court Victim Advocate.

Financial Considerations

: The grant total is $437,371 with the Federal allocation of $349,897 along

with $68,874 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund and $18,600 from the

required In-Kind Match in the form of volunteer hours.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Due to the cash match coming from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund, 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

$349,897 or as otherwise awarded from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

of Georgia, along with $68,874 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund, in

order to meet the legislative requirements mandated by the Victims? Bill of

Rights. This action will provide the funding for said positions renewable

annually.

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