Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

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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