Agenda Item # 2
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
June 2, 2009
Agenda Report # 395
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2009 Recovery Act Victim Services Grant
INITIATED BY: District Attorney?s Office ? Victim-Witness Assistance Program
________________________________________________________________________
Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept, if awarded, a 2009 Recovery
Act Victim Services Grant from Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for
$40,000, with no cash match requirement, to create two part-time temporary
positions in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit?s Victim-Witness Assistance
Program and amend the Multi-Governmental Grant Fund by the award of the grant.
Background: Funds from the grant will be used to create two part-time victim
advocate positions in order to provide better service to victims throughout the
entire Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.
Analysis: We plan to create two temporary part-time contractual positions.
Each temporary position will last 52 weeks and will be under contract with the
Program of the District Attorney. Creation of these positions will enable our
office to improve our services and allow our advocates to be more readily
available to victims of felony crimes throughout the entire Chattahoochee
Judicial Circuit.
The addition of these positions will vastly improve three main areas of our
coverage. It has been years since our Victim-Witness Program has been
adequately staffed and able to regularly send an advocate to cover Juvenile
Court. With the recent rise in property crime and the growing number of
juvenile victims, it is imperative that our department be able to assist those
who so desperately need it.
Creating two additional part-time temporary positions will allow our advocates
better access to all victims. They will be better able to assist with
providing referrals to outside agencies, filing compensation claims,
notification of court dates and other victim correspondence. In general, we
will be able to better meet the needs of victims by more effectively and more
efficiently using each advocate?s time.
Public outreach and education is the best way to raise awareness of our
program, crime victims? rights and tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.
With additional advocates, we will be able to visit target-groups, like schools
and adult-care centers, to promote these programs. Proactive methods such as
these encourage citizens to take the initiative to protect self and family by
following very simple steps.
Financial Considerations: The 20% in-kind match will be obtained by the
volunteering of a minimum of 20 hours per month per temporary advocate. (This
will be applicable directly to the grant at $12.00 per hour).
Recommendation: Approval is requested of a resolution to accept a 2009 Recovery
Act Victim Services Grant from Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for the
maximum of $40,000.00 to create 2 part-time temporary contract positions for
the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Victim-Witness Assistance Program under the
District Attorney.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _______
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO ACCEPT, IF AWAARDED, A 2009 RECOVERY ACT
VICTIM SERVICES GRANT IN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $40,000 FROM THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL TO CREATE 2 PART-TIME TEMPORARY CONTRACTUAL
POSITIONS FOR THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT?S VICTIM-WITNESS PROGRAM UNDER
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
WHEREAS, this Recovery Act Victim Services Grant is needed to enable
this program to increase advocate availability, allow personnel time to raise
awareness of victims rights, allow for victims? services in the Juvenile Court
and generally improve those services currently offered to victims of serious
crime.
WHEREAS, funds from this grant will be utilized to provide more
efficient service to crime victims and allow the more effective representation
throughout the entire Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit by all 7 victim advocates.
WHEREAS, the 20% in-kind match will be obtained by volunteer hours
donated from the 2 contractual advocates. By contract and agreement, said
advocates will volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per month.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS
FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept, if awarded, a
2009 Recovery Act Victim Services Grant for the maximum of $40,000.00 with no
cash match requirement for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit?s Victim-Witness
Assistance Program under the District Attorney?s Office in order to create two
temporary contractual positions and to amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by
alike amount.
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the
_________day of _____________, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative
vote of ____________members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Anthony voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting .
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Hunter voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
___________________________________ __________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor
Attachments
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