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District Attorney recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the acceptance of a grant award in the amount of $272,667 from the California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services for the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program for the period of October 1, 2019 - September 30, 2020;
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 would not increase net county cost; and
4) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute Amendment I to Agreement 3417 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships in an amount not to exceed $111,436 for the period covering October 25, 2018 through September 30, 2020, to provide one full-time Victim Advocate to the grant program.
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
On September 6, 2019, the District Attorney's Office submitted a request for application to continue into the second year of a grant opportunity, the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The purpose of the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program is to support and enhance specialized units to provide a coordinated response to adolescent (age 11 and older) and adult victims of sexual assault, through compassionate investigative interviewing, immediate victim advocacy, training for patrol officers/first responders, and the development/updating of effective protocols and practices. On September 20, 2019, the District Attorney's Office received notification via letter of intent indicating we had been selected for continued funding.
The Plan for the ST Program is to continue funding 1.0 FTE District Attorney Investigator, 0.10 FTE Program Coordinator and 1.0 Sexual Assault Counselor through a participating staff contract with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships. A portion of the District Attorney Investigator and Program Coordinator’s salary/benefits, vehicle maintenance costs, and a facility lease amount assigned to the project will be used to meet the cash match requirement.
The contract amendment with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships extends the agreement for a dedicated sexual assault counselor to be assigned to work specifically with the Investigator assigned to the ST program through the term of the current grant award period, October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.
The Objective of this Project is to dedicate personnel to enhance our ability to effectively provide services to adolescent and adult sexual assault victims and thoroughly investigate the sexual assault crimes against them. Having a dedicated project team allows the District Attorney's Office to expeditiously conclude cases, reducing victim trauma.
Grant funding gives an organization the funds to develop or enhance a new or existing program for the betterment of the community. These funds are not intended to be permanent and when the funding ends, the expectation is to continue to operate the program within the organization’s budget. Cal OES grant funding typically runs on a three-year grant cycle. The FY 2019-20 grant is the second funding year within the three-year cycle.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to accept the funding, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 18-1496, October 16, 2018 - Board accepted Federal FY 2018-19 Cal OES Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program (ST) in the amount of $272,667 for the period of October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2019
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost. Funding is included in the FY 2019-20 Budget. The total project award of $272,667 carries with it a match burden of $68,167. The grant proposal submitted identified using a portion of the Program Coordinator and the District Attorney Investigator's salary and benefits, vehicle maintenance costs associated with the program, and a facility lease to fulfill the match requirement. In the event the combination of these services is not sufficient to fulfill the match requirements, the County would be responsible for the difference.
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: Justene Grewal
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney