Agenda Item # 5
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
07/09/2013
Agenda Report # 05
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2014 Sexual Assault Services Program Request for Funds ? Core Project
INITIATED BY: District Attorney/Victim-Witness Assistance Program
Recommendation: Approval is requested to authorize the District Attorney?s
Victim-Witness Assistance Program to submit and if approved, accept a grant for
$44,265 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council allocated in the
FY14 Budget to provide funding for Sexual Assault Victim Services in the
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit and specifically in Muscogee County from January
1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.
Background: In July of 1989, the Office of 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 provide services to all 6
counties within the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Grant allocations since
that time have allowed the program to sustain minimum numbers of employed
advocates and as of June 2013, the office has a staff of 5 full-time victim
advocates and 1 part-time victim advocate.
Analysis: If approved, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will
allocate $44,265 to the Muscogee County Government to provide support to the DA
Victim-Witness Assistance Program as they fund a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate
position for the grant year of January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. The
total amount of $44,265 represents the operating budget for a full-time victim
advocate with benefits and limited mileage throughout the year.
Grant Funded Sexual Assault Victim Advocate
- VICTIM ADVOCATE (Full-Time):
Salary - $30,000
FICA/Medicare - $2,295
Life Insurance - $120
Retirement - $5,700
Health ? $5,650.00
TRAVEL:
Mileage - 885 miles @ .565 per mile - $500
Financial Considerations: The grant-funding total is $44,265 and there is no
cash or In-Kind match requested for this grant.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will be no annual fiscal impact
as a result of awarding 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 Crime 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 $44,265 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council, to provide funding to the DA Victim-Witness Assistance Program in
order to fund a full-time Sexual Assault Victim Advocate position who will
provide services to victims within the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.
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 SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICE
PROGRAM GRANT OF $44,265 FROM THE GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL
ALLOCATED IN THE FY14 BUDGET, TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE DA VICTIM-WITNESS
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CREATING A FULL-TIME SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCATE POSITION
IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FROM JANUARY 1, 2014 THROUGH DECEMBER 31,
2014 AND AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT.
WHEREAS, the District Attorney is requesting the acceptance of a Sexual Assault
Service Program Grant in the amount of $44,265 to be allocated to the FY14
Budget from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to create a full-time
sexual assault victim advocate position providing services to sexual
assault/abuse victims within the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit; and,
WHEREAS, the funding will be used to maintain one full-time Sexual Assault
Victim Advocate position along with benefits and mileage; and,
WHEREAS, the District Attorney will continue to supervise the operation of the
Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from
January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
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 $44,265 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council allocated in the FY14 Budget to provide funding to the DA
Victim-Witness Assistance Program to create and staff a Sexual Assault Victim
Advocate position in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit which will extend over
a twelve month period beginning January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the _________ day of _____________ 2013, and adopted at said meeting by
the affirmative vote of ____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________
_________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
Attachments
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