Agenda Item #5
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
Agenda Report # 423
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2009 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Continuation Project
Request
INITATED BY: District Attorney ? Victim-Witness Assistance Program
___________________________________________________________________________
Recommendation: Approval is requested to authorize the District
Attorney/Victim-Witness Assistance Program to submit and if approved accept a
grant for $72,819.00 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating along with
$18,205.00 from the Five Percent Crime Victim Surcharge Fund allocated in the
FY09 Budget to provide funding for Crime Victim Assistance in the Chattahoochee
Judicial Circuit from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.
Background: The District Attorney?s Office has been operating a Crime Victim
Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit since July 1989. In
October of 1992, the Crime Victim-Witness Assistance Program was awarded the
first Crime Victim Assistance Grant, which allowed the program to begin
providing standard services. In July of 1995, additional funds were received
from the Crime Victims Assistance 5% Surcharge. This 5% Fund allowed the
program to expand in order to provide services in all counties throughout the
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Successful grant allocations have allowed the
program to grow and as of 2009, there are currently five full-time positions
and two temporary/part-time positions.
Analysis: For FY10, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has allocated
$72,819.00 for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit to support the Crime Victim
Assistance Program from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010. The
District Attorney requests Council?s authorization to use funds obtained from
the Five Percent Crime Victim Surcharge Funds in the amount of $18,205.00.
The Victim-Witness Assistance Program of the District Attorney?s Office
requests approval of funding from the Five Percent Crime Surcharge for its 2010
Fiscal Year. The total amount of $91,024.00 represents the operating budget
for salaries and benefits of two grant funded positions.
Grant Funded Crime Victim Advocate
ADVOCATE #1: ADVOCATE#2
SALARY - $31,203.00 SALARY - $30,442.00
FICA - $1934.59 FICA - $1887.40
MEDICARE - $452.44 MEDICARE - $441.41
HEALTH ? $5400.00 HEALTH ? $5400.00
LIFE- $156.02 LIFE ? $152.21
RETIREMENT ? $7800.75 RETIREMENT - $7610.50
Financial Considerations: The grant-funding total is $91,024.00 with
$72,819.00 from the Federal Grant, along with the $18,205.00 from the Five
Percent Crime Victim Surcharge Fund is allocated in the FY10 Budget to provide
funding for the Crime Victim Assistance Program. As part of this proposal,
there is an In-Kind Match of 25% (of the required 20% match). The In-Kind Match
is provided from donated volunteer services as well as office space provided by
Columbus Consolidated Government.
Legal Considerations: Georgia Law requires that the prosecutor and 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. The legislature enacted the Victims?
Bill of Rights mandating that the District Attorney comply with the law. The
legislature acknowledging the additional burdens placed on prosecutors,
designed laws enabling prosecutors to provide the services, and provided a fund
from which the prosecutor may draw to fund the costs.
Recommendations/Actions: Authorize to submit and if approved accepts a grant
of $72,819.00 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to
continue the Crime Victim Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial
Circuit. This will provide funding for two (2) full time Crime Victim Advocate
positions for the duration of the grant period.
A RESOLUTION
NO._____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY, AND IF APPROVED, TO ACCEPT A VOCA GRANT OF $72,819.00 FROM THE
GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALONG WITH $18,205.00 FROM THE
FIVE PERCENT CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE SURCHARGE FUND ALLOCATED IN THE FY10
BUDGET, TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2010, AND AMEND THE
MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT.
WHEREAS, the District Attorney is requesting the acceptance of a VOCA Grant in
the amount of $72,819.00. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will
allocate $72,819.00 for a twelve month period, to support innocent victims of
violent crime under the 1996 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), along with $18,205.00
from the Crime Victim Assistance Surcharge allocated in the FY10 Budget for
salaries and benefits; and,
WHEREAS, the In-Kind Match of 25% of the required 25% is being met with
volunteers, donated professional counseling services and office space, located
at 100 Tenth Street, First Floor, West Wing, Columbus, GA 31902. All figures
based on a twelve month period; and,
WHEREAS, the funding will be used to maintain two full time Crime Victim
Advocate positions, funded in the FY10 grant from the Criminal Justice
Coordinating Council. Grant funding will provide crime victim assistance
services in Chattahoochee County, Harris County, Marion County, Talbot County,
Taylor County and Muscogee County, which is mandated by Georgia Law; and
WHEREAS, The District Attorney?s Office will continue to supervise the
operation of the Crime Victim Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial
Circuit from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.
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 $72,819.00 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council along with $18,205.00 of the Five Percent Surcharge Funds allocated in
the FY10 Budget to fund the Crime Victim Assistance Program which will extend
over a twelve month period beginning October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010
and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by alike amount.
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the ______ day of________________, 2009 and adopted 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
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