Agenda Item # 10
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
11/27/2018
Agenda Report # 64
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2018-19 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Competitive ? Underserved Area
Grant #5
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 $56,947 with a federal award of $45,557 from the Criminal Justice
Coordinating Council along with $8,542 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund
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 an additional In-Kind Match of $2,847 to be contributed by volunteer
hours, it is requested that the multi-governmental fund be amended by the
amount awarded plus the local match.
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 1 portion paid.
Analysis: If approved for FY19, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Georgia will
allocate $45,557 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 20% total match
($11,389), which breaks down to a cash portion of $8,542 and the remaining
$2,847 must come in the form of volunteer hours specified as In-Kind
contributions. The District Attorney requests Council?s authorization to
utilize $8,542, from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds, and amend the
multi-governmental fund by the amount awarded plus the local match.
The total amount of $56,947 represents the salary, benefits, travel, and
supplies for one (1) GS-14 Victim Advocate to provide direct services to crime
victims who have been identified as currently being underserved or denied
services. The area of focus is in Muscogee Juvenile Court and the Rapid
Resolution Program.
Grant Funded Victim Advocate GS-14
Total Award 56,947
Federal Portion: 45,557
20% Match: 11,389
Cash Match: 8,542
In-Kind: 2,847
Financial Considerations: The grant total is $56,947 with the Federal
allocation of $45,557 along with $8,542 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge
Funds and $2,847 in In-Kind Match 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
urges the collaboration of agencies to identify and address gaps in service and
work together to ease said burdens.
Recommendations/Actions: Authorize submission and, if approved, acceptance of a
grant in the amount of $45,557 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council, along with $8,542 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds in order to
provide services to crime victims who have been identified as underserved. This
action will provide the funding for a Victim Advocate to be in place for at
least the next three years.
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 $45,557
FROM THE GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALONG WITH $8,542 FROM
THE 5% CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE SURCHARGE FUND 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
$2,847 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 $45,557 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), along with $8,542
from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds allocated in the FY19 Budget for
salaries, benefits, travel, and supplies; and,
WHEREAS, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires a minimum 20% of
the grant come in the form of a match and 25% of that be an In-Kind Match to be
met through the use of volunteers. Figures are based on a twelve-month period;
and,
WHEREAS, the funding will be used to provide services to crime victims
identified as underserved;
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 $45,557 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council along
with $8,542 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund 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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