Agenda Item # 5
Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

07/09/2013

Agenda Report # 05


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: 2014 Sexual Assault Services Program Request for Funds – Core Project

INITIATED BY: District Attorney/Victim-Witness Assistance Program

Recommendation: Approval is requested to authorize the District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program to submit and if approved, accept a grant for $44,265 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council allocated in the FY14 Budget to provide funding for Sexual Assault Victim Services in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit and specifically in Muscogee County from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.

Background: In July of 1989, the Office of the District Attorney began operating a Crime Victim Assistance Program. In October of 1992, the Crime Victim-Witness Assistance Program was awarded the first Crime Victim Assistance Grant, thereby broadening the program for the provision of basic services. In July of 1995, additional funds were received from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund, thus allowing the program to expand services to provide services to all 6 counties within the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Grant allocations since that time have allowed the program to sustain minimum numbers of employed advocates and as of June 2013, the office has a staff of 5 full-time victim advocates and 1 part-time victim advocate.

Analysis: If approved, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will allocate $44,265 to the Muscogee County Government to provide support to the DA Victim-Witness Assistance Program as they fund a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate position for the grant year of January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. The total amount of $44,265 represents the operating budget for a full-time victim advocate with benefits and limited mileage throughout the year.

Grant Funded Sexual Assault Victim Advocate

Financial Considerations: The grant-funding total is $44,265 and there is no cash or In-Kind match requested for this grant.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will be no annual fiscal impact as a result of awarding this grant.

Legal Considerations: Georgia Law requires the District Attorney provide extensive services, information and notification to crime victims. (O.C.G.A.-17-17-1) The District Attorney is solely and directly responsible for complying with this law as mandated by the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights. Legislature acknowledges that this mandate places additional burdens on prosecutors and have designed laws enabling utilization of the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund to assist in easing said burdens.

Recommendations/Actions: Authorize submission and if approved, acceptance of a grant in the amount of $44,265 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to provide funding to the DA Victim-Witness Assistance Program in order to fund a full-time Sexual Assault Victim Advocate position who will provide services to victims within the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.


A RESOLUTION

NO._____


A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND, IF APPROVED, TO ACCEPT A SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICE PROGRAM GRANT OF $44,265 FROM THE GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALLOCATED IN THE FY14 BUDGET, TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE DA VICTIM-WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CREATING A FULL-TIME SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCATE POSITION IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FROM JANUARY 1, 2014 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT.

WHEREAS, the District Attorney is requesting the acceptance of a Sexual Assault Service Program Grant in the amount of $44,265 to be allocated to the FY14 Budget from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to create a full-time sexual assault victim advocate position providing services to sexual assault/abuse victims within the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit; and,

WHEREAS, the funding will be used to maintain one full-time Sexual Assault Victim Advocate position along with benefits and mileage; and,

WHEREAS, the District Attorney will continue to supervise the operation of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.


NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit and if approved, accept a grant of $44,265 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council allocated in the FY14 Budget to provide funding to the DA Victim-Witness Assistance Program to create and staff a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate position in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit which will extend over a twelve month period beginning January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
________________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________ 2013, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ____________ members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.

_____________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor