Agenda Item # 7
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
11/27/2018
Agenda Report # 61
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2018-19 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Competitive Grant #2 Onsite
Counseling Program
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 funding
totaling $50,000 with the federal portion of $40,000 from the Criminal Justice
Coordinating Council allocated in the FY19 Budget to provide funding for Crime
Victim Assistance in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from January 1, 2019 to
September 30, 2019. Along with a 20% Total Match of $10,000 all in the form of
an In-Kind Match of volunteer hours, it is requested that the
multi-governmental fund be amended by the amount awarded plus the local match,
if approved.
Background: In July of 1989, the Office of the District Attorney began
operating a Crime Victim Assistance Program. In October of 1992, the
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 all 6 counties within the
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Successful grant allocations since that time
have sustained the program. The office currently employs 13.6 staff members;
twelve full-time advocates, 3 part-time and one portion-paid.
Analysis: If approved for FY19, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Georgia will
allocate $40,000 to Muscogee County Government to support the Victim-Witness
Assistance Program for the grant year January 1, 2019 through September 30,
2019. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires a total match of
$10,000; however, we expect this entire amount to be met with the use of
volunteer hours specified as In-Kind contributions.
The total amount of $50,000 represents the contract fee to enter an agreement
with a licensed professional who will oversee an on-site mental health program
for our crime victims who are otherwise unable to obtain services. $2,000 of
the total funding is allowed for office supplies for program structure and
maintenance.
Grant Funded Licensed Professional Counselor ? Annual Contract - $45,000 or
$3,750 per month
Financial Considerations: Contract with a professionally licensed therapist
with valid medical/malpractice insurance to create and oversee an in-house
mental health program offering counseling to our crime victims. Total funding
is $50,000 with Federal allocation of $40,000 and $10,000 from the required
In-Kind Match in the form of volunteer hours.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will be no annual fiscal impact
as a result of 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 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 $40,000 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council, to provide counseling services to those crime victims who have been
previously underserved. This action will provide the funding for a contracted
licensed professional to provide on-site counseling to crime victims for at
least the next three years in the form of an annual continuation grant.
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 VOCA GRANT OF $40,000
FROM THE GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALLOCATED IN THE FY19
BUDGET, TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FROM JANUARY 1, 2019 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2019, AND, ALONG
WITH THE $10,000 IN-KIND MATCH, AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE
AMOUNT.
WHEREAS, the District Attorney is requesting the acceptance of a VOCA Grant in
the amount of $40,000 to be allocated over a twelve-month period from the
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia to support innocent victims of
violent crime under the 1996 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) allocated in the FY19
Budget for a contracted position; and,
WHEREAS, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires a minimum 20% of
the grant come in the form of a match and the total amount can be met using
volunteers. Figures are based on a twelve-month period; and,
WHEREAS, the funding will be used to enhance services as our office provides
services to crime victims from the moment of victimization;
WHEREAS, The District Attorney will continue to supervise the operation of the
Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from
January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019.
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 $40,000 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
allocated in the FY19 Budget to fund the Victim-Witness Assistance Program
which will extend over a twelve-month period beginning January 1, 2019 through
September 30, 2019.
_____________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the _________ day of _____________ 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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