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...
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