TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Allison Haley - District Attorney
REPORT BY: Sophie Johnson - Staff Services Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution for Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution authorizing the District Attorney to apply for, execute and sign grant subaward documents, including amendments, extensions and modifications, thereof, for the Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program. (Fiscal Impact: $196,906 Revenue; General Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
California Penal Code Sections 13835 through 13835.10 mandate that every county in the State of California be provided funding for comprehensive services for victims and witnesses. Funding is designed to help victims and witnesses of all types of crime by maintaining local centers that provide comprehensive assistance, including all legislatively mandated services. The District Attorney's Office began providing victim witness services in Fiscal Year 2010-2011. The Victim Services Division currently operates with funding provided primarily by grant subaward programs administered by the California Office of Emergency Services. Increased funding allocated under the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) allows for expanded services to targeted populations. The Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program grant provides funding for to assist victims of crime in the Latino population within the County.
Victim Witness Programs are required to perform 14 mandatory services: crisis intervention, emergency assistance, resource and referral assistance, direct counseling, victim of crime claims, property return, orientation to the criminal justice system, court escort, presentations and training to local criminal justice agencies, public presentations and publicity, case status and case dispositions, notification to family and friends, employer notification and intervention, and assistance with restitution. The following 10 optional services may be provided if they do not preclude the efficient provision of mandatory services: employer intervention, creditor intervention, child care, notification to witnesses of any change in the court calendar, funeral arrangements, crime prevention information, witness protection, assistance in obtaining temporary restraining orders, transportation, and provision of a waiting area during court proceedings separate from defendants and families and friends of defendants. The Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program grant subawards provide VOCA funding towards the Victim Witness Program Manager and Victim Witness Advocates to provide targeted services to Latino crime victims to enable improved access to services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for this population
The County was awarded $196,906 for this competitive grant effective January 1, 2023. The program is continuing to be offered in the coming period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, with federal funds of $196,906. This grant requires a match of $27,222, making the total project cost, $224,128.
Approval of the Resolution will authorize the District Attorney to continue the Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program for the calendar year of 2025. Today's recommended action will authorize the District Attorney to apply and sign for these grant subawards, including acceptance of additional funding, extensions, modifications or amendments thereof.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
District Attorney |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
This item is discretionary as there is no mandate for the District Attorney’s office to provide additional local services above the mandatory victim services handled through the Victim/Witness Assistance Program |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Appropriations have been included in the District Attorney’s budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and appropriations for future fiscal years will be budgeted accordingly |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If this item is not approved, the District Attorney will not be able to obtain continued funding from the State of California for the provision of additional local services for Victims of Crime. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable