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District Attorney’s Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the acceptance of a grant award in the total amount of $270,060 from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Program for the period of January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024, based on the received Award Letter;
2) Approve and authorize the Board Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance;
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; and
4) Approve and authorize the Board Chair to execute Agreement 7881 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships for the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, in the not-to-exceed amount of $79,864.
FUNDING: Services Training Officers Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On August 21, 2023, the District Attorney's Office received notification from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) that they intend to award the department for participation in the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution (VV) Program in the funding amount of $202,545 with a match requirement of $67,515, for a total project amount of $270,060. This will be the District Attorney’s sixth consecutive award under this grant program. The purpose of this program is to vertically prosecute violent crimes against the vulnerable adult population.
The funding provided by this program will continue to support 1.0 FTE Deputy District Attorney, 1.0 FTE Victim Advocate through a contract with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships (The Center), a District Attorney Investigator on a part-time basis to meet the cash match requirement, and as-needed operating expenses. The objective of this project is to improve the prosecution of Violent Crimes Against Vulnerable Adult Victims by creating a project team with a reduced caseload that can expeditiously conclude cases, reduce victim trauma, and enhance our services to victims.
Agreement 7881 with The Center will cover service period January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024 and allow the Victim Advocate to provide a multitude of services to victims of violence. This includes being available 24-hours a day to respond to a victim’s need for advocacy and assistance, as well as providing contact and referral of resources to victims in a swift manner. The hourly billing rate for the Victim Advocate is $6,512/month with allotted funds for training and a cell phone stipend in the amount of $1,720. All contract costs will be directly funded by the grant award.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve the District Attorney to accept the grant award and execute Agreement 7881, the County would be ineligible to participate in the Program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 22-1682, November 27, 2022 - Board accepted CalOES Violence Against Women (VV) in the amount of $270,060 for the period of January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023.
Legistar 21-1662, November 9, 2021 - Board accepted CalOES Violence Against Women (VV) in the amount of $270,060 for the period of January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022.
Legistar 20-1401, November 10, 2020 - Board accepted CalOES Violence Against Women (VV) in the amount of $270,060 for the period of January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
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 $270,060 includes a match burden of $67,515. The grant application submitted identified using staff cell phone costs and a portion of the District Attorney Investigator’s and Deputy District Attorney’s salary/benefit costs to fulfill the match requirement. In the event the combination of these expenses 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:
1) 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; and
2) Obtain the Board Chair's signature on two copies of Agreement 7881 with The Center 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