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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 $273,333 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, 2023 - September 30, 2024, based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance; and
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; upon County Counsel review and approval.
FUNDING: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services: Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors Formula Grant Program as authorized by the Violence Against Women Act.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On April 17, 2023, the District Attorney’s Office received a “Letter of Intent to Fund” from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) regarding the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program for the grant period October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024. In response to the ST Program Request for Application (RFA), the department has prepared a grant application. The purpose of the ST 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.
The plan for the ST Program is to continue funding 1.0 FTE District Attorney Investigator, 0.05 FTE Program Manager, 1.0 FTE Sexual Assault Counselor (SAC) through a participating staff contract with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships, training/travel expenses, and dedicated phone line costs. A portion of the District Attorney Investigator and Program Manager’s salary/benefits, training/travel expenses, and the dedicated Investigator phone line expenses will be used to meet the 25% cash match requirement.
The objective of this project is to continue to dedicate personnel to enhance the effectiveness of providing services to adolescent and adult sexual assault victims and to thoroughly investigate sexual assault crimes against them. Having a dedicated project team allows the District Attorney's Office to expeditiously conclude cases, reducing victim trauma.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve the District Attorney to accept the CalOES ST grant award, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 22-1428, September 13, 2022 - The Board accepted Federal FY 2022-23 CalOES Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program in the amount of $272,667 for the period of October 1, 2022-September 30, 2023 and approved the Chair to execute Amendment III to Agreement #4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships for continued services related to the grant program.
Legistar 21-1491, September 28, 2021 - The Board accepted Federal FY 2021-22 CalOES Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program in the amount of $272,667 for the period of October 1, 2021- September 30, 2022 and approved the Purchasing Agent to executed Amendment II to Agreement #4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships.
Legistar 20-1104, September 22, 2020 - The Board accepted Federal FY 2020-21 CalOES Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program in the amount of $272,667 for the period of October 1, 2020- September 30, 2021 and executed Amendment I to Agreement #4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships.
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 2023-24 Budget. The total project award of $273,333 carries with it a match burden of $68,333. The grant proposal submitted identified using a portion of the Program Manager and the District Attorney Investigator's salary/benefits, training/travel costs, and dedicated Investigator phone line costs to fulfill the match requirement. In the event the combination of these services is not sufficient to fulfill the match requirement, 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 copies of the Certification of Assurance of Compliance forms and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Justene Cline.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney