Agenda Item # 3
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
10/9/2018
Agenda Report # 35
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2018-2019 ? 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 $127,855 or as otherwise awarded from the
Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and approved matching funding of
$5,287 from the five percent crime victim surcharge fund for the Solicitor
General?s Victim Assistance Program. 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 $127,855. 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 $127,855 or as otherwise
awarded for FY 18/19. 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 $127,855 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 $127,855
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: (1) Approves acceptance of the $127,855 ?or as
otherwise awarded? Federal VOCA Grant award; (2) Approve the request for
disbursement of funds from the five percent surcharge in the amount of $5,287
to help continue to fund the Solicitor General?s Victim Assistance positions
and meet the ?matching? requirement of the Grant; and, (3) amend the Multi
Government Fund (0216) to reflect these revenues and expenses.
A RESOLUTION
NO. ______
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SOLICITOR GENERAL TO ACCEPT A VOCA GRANT AWARD OF
$127,855 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, 2018 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2019. 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 $127,855 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 Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the 9th
day of October 2018, 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 House voting _____________.
Councilor Huff voting _____________.
Councilor Thomas voting _____________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting _____________.
Councilor Woodson voting _____________.
__________________________________ __________________________
Lindsey Glisson, Deputy Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
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