DATE: May 7, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Lisa A. Smittcamp, District Attorney
SUBJECT: Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Grant Application/Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the District Attorney’s previous submittal of Grant Application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution program for FY 2019-20 ($270,060); and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Grant Application/Agreement and Certification of Assurance of Compliance for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution program with the Cal OES, for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 ($270,060).
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. This program concentrates vertical prosecution efforts toward repeat offender domestic violence defendants, as well as dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault defendants, thereby targeting the most serious offenders, and reducing the level of domestic violence in Fresno County. To meet the grant filing deadline of April 22, 2019, the grant application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. The application will maintain the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution program. It should be noted that once the Grant Award Face Sheet is approved and executed by the Chairman and Cal OES, the executed documents become the final agreement between the County and Cal OES. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the revenue, appropriations and staffing (one Deputy District Attorney IV and one Victim Advocate) associated with this program will be eliminated as part of the FY 2019-20 District Attorney Org 2860 budget request.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Revenues of $202,545, and required 25% Net County Cost match of $67,515 total $270,060 for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution program budget, and will be included in the FY 2019-20 District Attorney Org 2860 budget request.
DISCUSSION:
The Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution program funds one Deputy District Attorney IV position to vertically prosecute domestic violence cases from the rural areas of Fresno County. Fresno County is one of eleven counties that have been successful at competing for these funds since 1998.
The Violence Against Women program also partially funds a Victim Advocate to guide victims through the legal process. The advocate assists the victims during the course of the preliminary hearing and/or trial, and is the contact person for victims throughout the case. Additionally, the advocate provides support to victims, keeping them informed, ensuring their input, accompanying them to court, and offering valuable insight to the prosecutor as to the concerns of the victim. The advocate also provides victims with needed referrals to community service agencies, and is engaged in outreach programs to serve victims of domestic violence.
As part of this program, the unit prosecutor has created training programs for both advocates and law enforcement officers in rural police agencies. The training classes cover the dynamics of domestic violence, successful approaches to cases with reluctant or recanting victims, and community resources for victims.
The recommended actions allow the District Attorney’s Office to apply for these funds, and approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Grant Award Face Sheet and Certification of Assurance of Compliance with Cal OES to continue the Violence Against Women Prosecution program for FY 2019-20. If approved, the executed Grant Award Face Sheet for the application will be forwarded to Cal OES to finalize the application/agreement.
If grant funding for this program is discontinued, all associated positions will be eliminated.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Cal OES
CAO ANALYST:
Jeannie Z. Figueroa