DATE: April 28, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Lisa A. Smittcamp, District Attorney
SUBJECT: Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Grant Amendment
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 19-193 with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution grant extending the term by six months from June 30, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and increasing the grant award by $135,029 to $405,089.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will increase funding of the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Program by $135,029, revise the total award amount to $405,089, and increase the time period by six months through December 31, 2020. 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. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is 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 2020-21 District Attorney Org 2860 budget request unless an alternative funding source is found.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended actions. This amendment will add additional revenues of $101,272 and a required 25% County match of $33,757, for a total increase of $135,029 that will be included in the FY 2020-21 District Attorney Org 2860 budget request. These new revenues will be added to the existing agreement of $202,545, and required 25% County match of $67,515, for a combined total of $405,089 for the Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution program budget and increase the time period through December 31, 2020.
DISCUSSION:
The recommended amendment increases funding by $135,029, revising the total award amount to $405,089, and increases the time period by six months through December 31, 2020.
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.
The original grant Agreement and Certificate of Assurance of Compliance were approved by your Board on May 7, 2019. Cal OES revised the Certificate of Assurance of Compliance (COAOC) in May of 2019, and noticed all counties on August 13, 2019 that a revised COAOC would be required before counties could be placed into grant award. The revised COAOC was approved September 24, 2019. Lastly, Cal OES revised the COAOC in January of 2020, and noticed all counties on January 13, 2020 that a revised COAOC would be required to comply with Federal Grant Guidelines, which was approved by your Board on February 25, 2020.
If grant funding for this program is discontinued, all associated positions will be eliminated unless an alternative funding source is found.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 31, February 25, 2020
BAI # 24, September 24, 2019
BAI # 36, May 7, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment to Agreement with Cal OES
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck