TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Allison Haley - District Attorney
REPORT BY: Sophie Johnson - Staff Services Manager
SUBJECT: Application and Acceptance of Funding for Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program
RECOMMENDATION
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District Attorney requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign a Certification of Assurance of Compliance authorizing the District Attorney to apply for and sign grant Subaward documents with the California Office of Emergency Services in the anticipated amount of $246,132 for the term of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 for the Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of the recommended action will allow the District Attorney to apply for and sign grant subaward documents, including amendments, extensions, and modifications, to continue the County Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program. This subaward program, administered by the California Office of Emergency Services, provides Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding for continued services to crime victims and witnesses throughout the County.
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 2022-2023 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. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
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.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
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 to assist victims of crime in the Latino, elder and dependent adult victims of crime in 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 Victim Witness Program staff offers and provides mandated and optional services to an average of 1,500 victims each fiscal year. The Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program grant subawards provide VOCA funding for the Victim Witness Program Manager and two full time Victim Witness Advocates to provide targeted services to vulnerable older adults and dependent adults, as well as to Latino crime victims to enable improved access to services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for this population.
The County's anticipated Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program will target Latino victims of crime. The funding cycle is January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 and the amount is $246,132. Today's recommended action will authorize the Chair to sign the Certificate of Assurance of Compliance (COAOC) documents, which authorizes the District Attorney to apply and sign for these grant subawards. This includes accepting additional funding, extensions, modifications, or amendments.