Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item #



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



May 21, 2002



Agenda Report #



TO: Mayor and Councilors



SUBJECT: VOCA/VAWA - Crime Victim Assistance Grant



INITIATED BY: City Manager?s Office



Recommendation: Authorize the Solicitor-General to accept a grant of

$44,205.00 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and approve

funding of $48,150.00 from the five percent surcharge fund for the

Solicitor-General?s-Victim/Witness Assistance Program. Amend the Multi

Governmental Fund (216) to reflect these revenue and expenses.



Background: The Solicitor-General?s Victim/Witness Assistance Program was

organized in December, 1997 to manage misdemeanor victims? needs and services,

maintain all necessary documentation to maintain funding, participate in law

enforcement and community training and awareness, coordinate in-office

investigation and assist prosecution, coordinate community intervention and

prevention efforts.



In 1998, the Solicitor-General obtained a Federal VOCA (Victims of Crimes Act)

grant of

$42,100.00. The grant money pays the Director?s annual base salary and

benefits. The Solicitor- General obtains in-kind services and City Council

approved additional funding from the five percent crime victim assistance

surcharge in the amount of $45,371.00 for the program.



In 1999, the Solicitor-General obtained from the Criminal Justice Coordinating

Council (CJCC) a grant of $42,100.00. The grant money paid for the Director?s

annual base salary and benefits. In addition to the grant award, $45,804.00

was requested from the five percent crime victim assistance surcharge fund to

pay an Investigator/Victim Advocate and expenses therefor.



Advocates review up to twenty-five court dockets per week and attend two to

four court sessions daily. On most days, court sessions operate simultaneously

and throughout the day. Recorder?s Court conducts three sessions daily, Monday

through Saturday; Municipal Court operates three sessions weekly; State Court

conducts two to four sessions weekly.



Advocates interview and photograph victims, make referrals to area assistance

agencies, accompany victims to court sessions, obtain information to deliver to

the court as victim impact statements for sentencing, assist in filing victim

compensation claims and obtaining restitution, tracks probation violations,

help victims obtain protective services and orders and make efforts to insulate

victims from defendants? actions, act as liaisons with attorneys and explain

the prosecution process.



The Director is a founding member and officer of the Chattahoochee Judicial

District Domestic Violence Roundtable, coordinates training for law enforcement

is an instructor for regional businesses on the impact of domestic violence in

the workplace.



Analysis: In FY02 the Solicitor-General received from the Criminal Justice

Coordinating Council (CJCC) a grant of $44,205.00. This amount covers salary

and benefits for the Program Director. In addition to the grant award,

$44,598.00 was requested from the five percent crime victim assistance

surcharge fund to pay an Assistant to the Director and expenses therefor.



This year, FY 2003, CJCC again awarded the program $44,205.00. City Council is

requested to authorize disbursement of $48,150.00from the five percent crime

victim surcharge fund for an Assistant and expenses.



Financial Considerations: This office requests $48,150.00 from the five percent

crime victim assistance surcharge fund. Grant use requirements stipulate that

the match provided by the grant recipient must include personnel. The funds

will pay salary and benefits for an Assistant to the Director ($26,670.00 plus

$9,013.00) and finance an operating budget for the program.



The City is reimbursed from the VOCA grant for the Director?s salary and

benefits. Non-reimbursed expenses are requested from the five percent crime

victim assistance surcharge fund. The Surcharge fund is specifically tagged

for funding of victim/witness assistance programs O.C.G.A. 15-21-132 (a) (1).

The Solicitor-General?s office, prosecuting in State Court, is a major source

of this pool.



Legal Considerations: Georgia laws require that the prosecutor, here, the

Solicitor-General, provide extensive services, information and notification to

crime victims. (O.C.G.A. 17-17-1 et. seq.) The Solicitor-General is solely

and directly responsible for complying with this law. The Legislature enacted

the Victims? Bill of Rights mandating that the Solicitor-General comply with

the law.



The Legislature, acknowledging the additional burdens placed on prosecutors,

designed laws enabling prosecutors to provide the services, and provided a fund

from which the prosecutor may draw to fund the costs incurred therefor. (

O.C.G.A. 15-21-130 et. seq.) The fund monies are derived from a five percent

penalty assessed on fines ordered in Muscogee County Courts. The amount

collected in this fund is substantial. Monies not previously paid out to the

Victim Assistance Programs are now held in escrow by the City?s finance

department.



The governing authority (City Council) approves the disbursements form the five

percent crime victim surcharge fund, authorizes grant award acceptance and

enables the Solicitor General to administer the Program in compliance with

applicable laws.



Recommendation/Actions: Approve acceptance of the $44,205.00 Federal VOCA

grant award and approve the request for $48,150.00 from the five percent

surcharge for operating expenses and to provide an assistant to the Director of

the Solicitor-General?s Crime Victim/Witness Assistance Program. Amend the

Multi Governmental Fund (216) to reflect these revenues and expenses.





A RESOLUTON



NO. ___________





A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SOLICITOR GENERAL TO ACCEPT A VOCA GRANT AWARD OF

$44,205.00 AND APPROVE FUNDING OF $48,150.00 FROM THE FIVE PERCENT CRIME VICTIM

ASSISTANCE SURCHARGE FUND, TO OPERATE THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL?S VICTIM/WITNESS

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FROM OCTOBER 1,2002 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2003. AMEND THE

MULTI GOVERNMENTAL FUND (216) TO REFLECT THESE REVENUE AND EXPENSES.



WHEREAS, the Solicitor-General designed a Victim/Witness Assistance Program

which specifically addresses the needs of misdemeanor crime victims; and



WHEREAS, the funds are requested to finance personnel and budget of the

Solicitor-General?s Victim/Witness Assistance Program to provide services

mandated by Georgia law; and,



WHEREAS, the Solicitor-General is requesting the acceptance of a $44,205.00

Federal grant award and approval of disbursement in matching funds, $48,150.00,

from the Crime Victim Assistance Surcharge for salary, benefits, equipment,

supplies, travel, training; and,



WHEREAS, if accepted, Federal grant monies will reimburse the City for salary,

and benefits for the Program Director excluding applicable Federal and State

taxes.



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



That the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept Grant funds for the

Solicitor-General?s Victim/Witness Assistance Program form VOCA, a Federal

grant, and approve the use of $48,150.00 from the Crime Victim Assistance

Surcharge to fund the remaining portion. Amend the Multi Governmental Fund

(216) to reflect these revenues and expenses.



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

on the 21st day of May 2002 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote

of Members of Council.





Councilor Allen voting: .

Councilor Henderson voting: .

Councilor Hunter voting: .

Councilor McDaniel voting: .

Councilor Poydasheff voting:

.

Councilor Rodgers voting: .

Councilor Smith voting: .

Councilor Suber voting: .

Councilor Turner Pugh voting: .

Councilor Woodson voting: .



_____________________________ _______________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk Bobby G. Peters, Mayor