Agenda Item # 6
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
11/27/2018
Agenda Report # 60
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2018-19 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Competitive Grant #1 Intern
Coordinator
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 $67,650 of which the federal award is $54,120 from the Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council along with $9,780 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 $3,750 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 one portion-paid.
Analysis: If approved for FY19, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Georgia will
allocate $54,120 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% match that
totals $13,530 and a portion will be cash ($9,780) and 25% of the 20% (which is
$3,750) must be in the form of volunteer hours specified as In-Kind
contributions. The District Attorney requests Council?s authorization to
utilize $9,780, if approved, from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds, which is
the required cash match.
The total amount of $67,650 represents the salary, benefits, travel, supplies
and printing for one full-time Intern Coordinator (G-16) position to develop,
train and oversee the Program?s Internship/Volunteer program as well as ensure
all direct services to crime victims are properly delivered and documented
throughout the 6 counties of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.
Grant Funded Intern Coordinator ? Full-time $67,650
Financial Considerations: The total award figure of $67,650 represents salary,
benefits, travel, supplies and printing for a full time Intern Coordinator
(G-16). The Federal allocation is $54,120 along with $9,780 from the 5% Crime
Victim Surcharge Fund and $3,750 from the required In-Kind Match in the form of
volunteer hours.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: Due to the cash match coming from the
5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund, there will be no annual fiscal impact because
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 $54,120 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council, along with $9,780 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund, in order to
create the position of an Intern Coordinator to develop, train, and oversee the
Internship/Volunteer program as well as ensure direct services to crime victims
are properly delivered and documented throughout the Chattahoochee Judicial
Circuit. If approved, funding will exist for at least three years and be
renewable upon grant submission.
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 $54,120
FROM THE GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALONG WITH $9,780 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
$3,750 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 $54,120 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 $9,780
from the 5% Crime Victim Assistance Surcharge Fund allocated in the FY19
Budget; 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 with 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 throughout the six counties that make up the
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit; and,
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 $54,120 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council along
with $9,780 of the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds 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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