Agenda Item # 4
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
Agenda Report # 293
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) - Crime Assistance Grant
INITIATED BY: Victim Witness Assistance Program
Recommendation: Grant Approval is requested for the District Attorney to
submit and if approved accept a grant of $100,000.00, from the Georgia Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council along with $43,056.44, 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,
2008 to September 30, 2009.
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 Crime Victim Assistance Grant in the amount of $7,000.00, with an
In-Kind Mach of $1,750.00. This grant was budgeted within the District
Attorney's Crime Victim Assistance Budget. In July of 1995, the Crime Victim
Assistance Program received additional funds from the Crime Victim Assistance
Surcharge. The surcharge allowed the program to expand to provide services in
all counties in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit with each county providing
support from funds collected from the surcharge. In FY97, the program received
a $75,160.00 grant and used the funds to add three full-time positions. In
FY98, a two-year VOCA grant was allocated in the amount of $157,000.00. The
money was used for equipment and to maintain the three added full time
positions.
Analysis: For FY 09 the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council allocated
$100,000.00 for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit to support the Crime Victim
Assistance Program from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. The
District Attorney requests Council's authorization to use funds obtained from
the Five Percent Crime Victim Surcharge Funds.
The Victim-Witness Assistance Program of the District Attorney's Office
requests approval of funding from the Five Percent Crime Surcharge for its 2009
Fiscal Year. The total amount of $143,056.44 represents the operating budget
for salaries and benefits of three grant funded positions.
Grant Funded Crime Victim Advocate (per position)
SALARY 31,659.63 ea.
RET 7,914.90 ea.
FICA 1,962.90 ea.
LIFE INS 158.30 ea.
HEALTH 5,400.00 ea.
TOTAL $ 47,685.48 ea.
Financial Considerations: The grant-funding total is $100,000.00 with an
in-kind match of 25%. The in-kind match is provided from donated volunteer
services and office space provided by the Columbus Consolidated Government.
$43,056.44 from the Five Percent Crime Victim Surcharge Fund is allocated in
the FY09 Budget to also provide funding for the Crime Victim Assistance Program.
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 $100.000.00 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to
continue the Crime Victim Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial
Circuit. This will provide funding for three (3) full time Crime Victim
Advocate positions for the duration of the grant period.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, ON
BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND IF APPROVED ACCEPT A VOCA GRANT OF
$100,000.00, FROM THE GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALONG WITH
$43,056.44, FROM THE FIVE PERCENT CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE SURCHARGE FUND
ALLOCATED IN THE FY09 BUDGET. TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE
IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER
30, 2009 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 $100,000.00. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
will allocate $100,000.00 for a twelve month period, to support innocent
victims of violent crimes under the 1996 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), along
with $43,056.44 from the Crime Victim Assistance Surcharge allocated in the
FY09 Budget for salaries and benefits; and,
WHEREAS, the in-kind match of $20,435.00 is provided from donated
professional counseling services and office space, located at 100 10th Street,
1st Floor, West Wing, Columbus GA 31901. Theses figures are based on a twelve
month period; and,
WHEREAS, the funding will be used to maintain three full time Crime
Victim Advocate positions, funded in the FY09 grant from the Criminal Justice
Coordinating Council. Grant funding will provide crime victim assistant
services in Chattahoochee County, Harris County, Marion County, Muscogee
County, Talbot County, and Taylor 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, 2008 through September 30, 2009.
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 $100,000.00 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council along with $43,056.44 of the Five Percent Surcharge allocated in the
FY09 Budget to fund the Crime Victim Assistance Program which will extend over
a twelve month period beginning October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009.
_________
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
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