Title
District Attorney recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the acceptance of a grant award in the amount of $270,060 from the California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Program for the period of July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020 based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance Violence Against Women Act;
3) Authorize the District Attorney to execute the Grant Award Agreement and required documents, including any extensions or amendments thereof which do not increase the net county costs; and
4) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute Amendment I to Agreement 3370 with the Center for Violence Free Relationships in an amount not to exceed $149,200 for the period covering July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020, to provide one full-time Victim Advocate to the grant program, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Violence Against Women Act Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors Formula Grant Program Funds.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The District Attorney's Office has received notification from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) that they intend to fund a second year of the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution (VW) Program. The purpose of this program is to vertically prosecute violent crimes against women.
The Plan for this program is to continue to fund one Deputy District Attorney (limited-term), one Victim Advocate through a contract with the Center for Violence Free Relationships using the grant award and assign an District Attorney Investigator to the project on a part-time basis to meet the cash match requirement.
The Objective of this Project is to improve the prosecution of Adult Sexual Assault and Aggravated Domestic Violence crimes by creating a project team with a reduced caseload that can expeditiously conclude cases, reduce victim trauma and enhance our services to victims.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to accept the funding, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
The Board first approved the acceptance of this application on October 16, 2018, Item #14, Legistar File #18-0900.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Net County Cost associated with this award. The total project award of $270,060 carries with it a match burden of $67,515. The grant proposal submitted identified using a District Attorney Investigator to fulfill the match requirement. In the event the combination of these services were not sufficient to fulfill the match requirements, the County would be responsible for the difference. All funding is included in the FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain the Board Chair's signature on two Certification of Assurance of Compliance Violence Against Women Act forms and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Audra Anderson.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney.