Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Agenda Item # 8



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



7/25/2017



Agenda Report # 15



TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: 2017-2018 ? Crime Victim Assistance Grant

INITIATED BY: Solicitor General?s Victim Witness Assistance Program



Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept a Federal VOCA (Victims of

Crimes Act) Grant in the amount of $70,593 or as otherwise awarded from the

Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, with matching funds of $5,287

from the five percent crime victim surcharge fund for the Solicitor General?s

Victim Assistance Program and amend the Multi Governmental Fund (0216) to

reflect these revenues and expenses.

Background: The Solicitor General?s Victim Assistance program was organized in

1997 to manage misdemeanor crime victims? needs and services, participate in

law enforcement and community training and awareness, coordinate in-office

investigation and prosecution, coordinate community intervention and prevention

efforts, and maintain necessary documentation to maintain funding.

In 1998, the Solicitor General?s Victim Witness Assistance program obtained a

Federal VOCA (Victims of Crimes Act) Grant. The VOCA Grant Program supports

direct services to crime victims, I.e., persons who have suffered physical,

sexual, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of crime.

Since 1998 , the Solicitor General?s Victim Witness Program has provided direct

services to crime victims by: interviewing and photographing victims, making

referrals to area assistance agencies, accompanying victims to court, obtaining

information to deliver to the court as victim impact statements for sentencing,

assisting in filing victim compensation claims and obtaining restitution,

tracking probation violations, helping victims obtain protective services and

orders, making efforts to insulate victims from defendants? actions, and

explaining the prosecution process to victims and families. The Victim

Assistance office provides assistance to approximately 2400 if not more, crime

victims in State Court each year.

The VOCA Grant awarded to the Solicitor General?s Victim Witness Assistance

Program is administered through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

(CJCC) and the prosecuting Attorney?s Council of Georgia (PACGA). The grant

amount is $70,593. This grant funds, in part, the Victim Assistance Judicial

Technician II and the Victim Advocate position in the Solicitor General?s

Victim Witness Assistance Office. The remaining balance of the salary and

benefits of the Judicial Technician II position and benefits of that position

($5,287) are funded from the five percent crime victim surcharge funds ?which

have been used in years past as the ?matching? funds required by the grant.

Analysis: The Solicitor General?s Victims Witness Assistance program has again

been awarded a Federal VOCA Grant in the amount of $70,593 or as otherwise

awarded for FY 17/18. City council is requested to accept the grant and

authorize disbursement from the five percent crime victim surcharge fund in the

amount of $5,287 to continue to fund the positions and meet the matching

requirements of the VOCA Grant. Council has approved the grant and the

matching funding from the five percent crime victim surcharge fun for the

years. This is not a new request.

Financial Consideration: This office requests disbursement of funds from the

five percent crime victim surcharge fund. Grant use requirements stipulate

that the ?match? provided by the grant recipient must include personnel. The

grant funds will pay $70,593 or as otherwise awarded of the salary and benefits

of the Victim Assistance Judicial Technician II and the Victim Advocate

position. The city is reimbursed from the VOCA grant for the $70,593 in salary

for the Victim Assistance Judicial Technician II and the Victim Advocate

position. Non-reimbursed salary is requested from the five percent crime

victim assistance surcharge fund. The surcharge fund is specially 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 five percent crime victim surcharge fund pool. For years, Council has

previously approved the grant and use of the five percent crime victim

surcharge for this purpose.

Legal Considerations: Georgia law requires that the prosecutor, her, the

Solicitor General, provide extensive services, information and notification to

crime victims. (O.C.G.A 17-7-1 et. seq.) The Solicitor General is directly

responsible for complying with the law. The Georgia legislature exacted the

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

law.

Additionally, the Georgia Legislature, acknowledging the additional burdens

placed on prosecutors, designed laws enabling prosecutors to provide services

directly to victims and the Legislature provided a fund from which the

prosecutors to provide services directly to victims and the legislature

provided a fund from which the prosecutor may draw to fund the costs incurred

therefore. (O.C.G.A 15-21-130 et. Seq.) These funds are derived from a five

percent penalty assessed on fines ordered in Muscogee County Courts (Crime

Victim Surcharge Fund). The amount collected in this fund is substantial.

The governing Authority (City Council) authorizes grant award acceptance,

approves the disbursement from the five percent crime victim surcharge fund,

and enables the Solicitor General to administer the program in compliance with

applicable laws.

Recommendations/Actions: Approval is requested to accept a Federal VOCA

(Victims of Crimes Act) Grant in the amount of $70,593 or as otherwise awarded

from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and matching funding of

$5,287 from the five percent crime victim surcharge fund for the Solicitor

General?s Victim Assistance Program and amend the Multi Governmental Fund

(0216) to reflect these revenues and expenses.



A RESOLUTION

NO. ______



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

$70,593 OR AS OTHERWISE AWARDED AND APPROVE FUNDING OF $5,287 FROM THE FIVE

PERCENT CRIME VICTIM SURCHARGE FUND TO OPERATE THE SOLICITOR GENERAL?S VICTIM

WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FROM OCTOBER 1, 2017 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2018. AMEND

THE MULTI GOVERNMENTAL FUND 0216 TO REFLECT THESE REVENUE AND EXPENSE.

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

1997, which specially address 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 $70,593 or as

otherwise awarded Federal Grant Award and approve funding of $5,287 from the

five percent Crime Victim Surcharge fund for salary and benefits; and,

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

and benefits for the excluding applicable Federal and State taxes.

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

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

Solicitor General?s Victim/Witness Assistance program from VOCA, a Federal

grant, and approve the use of $5,287 from the Crime Victim Assistance Surcharge

to fund the remaining portion. Amend the Multi Governmental Fund (0216) to

reflect the revenue and expenses.

________________

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

_________ day of ____________ 2017, and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.





Councilor Allen voting __________.

Councilor Baker voting __________.

Councilor Barnes voting __________.

Councilor Davis voting __________.

Councilor Garrett voting __________.

Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Huff voting __________.

Councilor Thomas voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.







_______________________________ __________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor

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