Title
District Attorney recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the acceptance of a grant award in the amount of $356,112 from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023; and
2) Approve and authorize the District Attorney to execute grant award agreement DI23009, including any amendments or extensions thereof which would not increase net county cost, upon County Counsel review and approval.
FUNDING: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On June 22, 2022, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) notified the District Attorney’s Office that their grant application for the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program was approved in the total amount of $356,112, covering the period of October 1, 2022-September 30, 2023. The primary focus of the program is to prosecute and investigate alcohol and drug impaired driving cases.
Board approval and acceptance of this will allow the District Attorney’s Office to effectively investigate and prosecute Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases. The grant will fund 1.0 FTE Deputy District Attorney, 0.50 FTE District Attorney Investigator, and costs associated with program-related travel and training. This is no cash match requirement under this funding opportunity.
The investigation and prosecution of DUI charges have historically absorbed a great number of resources in the District Attorney's Office due to the number of offenses within El Dorado County. In 2019, OTS ranked El Dorado County 36 out of 58 counties for alcohol involved collisions based on daily vehicle miles traveled. This includes a total of 151 victims either killed or injured during this period.
The District Attorney's Office has implemented many programs pursuant to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program grants, which includes community awareness programs, DUI checkpoints and the prosecution of DUI offenses. The program assigned Deputy District Attorney will not only continue to vertically prosecute all felony DUI cases but will also attend available training events to facilitate additional training to local law enforcement agencies and less experienced prosecutors who are assigned to misdemeanor DUI cases. The assigned District Attorney Investigator will provide training in the area of “call-out” protocol for fatal collisions, consultation, courtroom testimony, participating in DUI checkpoints, and providing overall investigative support for DUI cases.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve the acceptance of the OTS Grant Agreement, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 21-1426, September 21, 2021 - Board approved the acceptance of the California Office of Traffic Safety, Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program Grant Agreement DI22002, to fund the prosecution of alcohol and drug impaired driving cases for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 in the amount of $345,654.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost. This grant carries no County match requirement, and the revenues have been included in the FY 2022-23 budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney