Agenda Item # 5
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
10/09/2018
Agenda Report # 37
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2018-19 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Compensation Grant
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 a grant for
$48,649 or as otherwise awarded from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
of Georgia allocated in the FY19 Budget to provide funding for Crime Victim
Assistance in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from October 1, 2018 to
September 30, 2019. This Compensation Advocate Grant has a Match Waiver so
there is no request for either a cash match or an In-Kind match. It is
requested that the multi-governmental fund be amended by the amount awarded.
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 the 6 counties within the
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Successful grant allocations since that time
have sustained the program. The office currently employs a Director of Victim
Services, two (2) Victim Advocate Investigators and 12.1 Victim Advocates.
Analysis: If approved for FY19, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of
Georgia will allocate $48,649 to Columbus Consolidated Government to support
the Victim-Witness Assistance Program for the grant year October 1, 2018
through September 30, 2019. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of
Georgia is waiving both the cash match and the In-Kind match for this grant.
The total amount of $48,649 represents the salary and full benefits for one (1)
position of Victim Advocate/Compensation Specialist who will provide
Crime-Victim Compensation education and outreach throughout the Chattahoochee
Judicial Circuit.
Grant Funded Victim Advocate/Compensation Specialist Full-Time Total = $48,649
Financial Considerations: Since the match is waived, the award and total of
$48,649 are the same.
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
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 $48,649 or as otherwise awarded from the Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia, in order to reach out to crime victims
and the general public with education and information on Crime Victims
Compensation. This action will provide the funding for a Victim
Advocate/Compensation Specialist to be in place renewable on an annual basis.
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 $48,649 OR
AS OTHERWISE AWARDED FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL OF GEORGIA
ALLOCATED IN THE FY19 BUDGET, TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE IN
THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2018 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30,
2019, 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 $48,649 or as otherwise awarded 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), allocated in the FY19 Budget for the salary and full benefits; and,
WHEREAS, the funding will be used to enhance services as our office provides
education and outreach specifically regarding Crime Victims Compensation to
those within our Circuit; and,
WHEREAS, The District Attorney will continue to supervise the operation of the
Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from
October 1, 2018 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 $48,649 or as otherwise awarded from the Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council of Georgia allocated in the FY19 Budget to fund the Victim-Witness
Assistance Program which will extend over a twelve-month period beginning
October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019.
______________
Introduced at a regular Meeting of Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the 9th
day of October 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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