REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 1, 2026
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
San Bernardino County Victim Witness Assistance Program for 2026-27
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, for the Victim Witness Assistance Program, in the amount of $2,888,796, for the period of October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
2. Adopt Resolution, as required by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, authorizing the Victim Services Chief to electronically execute and submit the grant application referenced in Recommendation No. 1, including any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the grant application, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Authorize the Victim Services Chief to electronically execute and submit the grant application referenced in the Recommendation No. 1 and all related documents, including any subsequent non-substantive amendments, subject to review by County Counsel.
4. Direct the Victim Services Chief to transmit the grant application and any non-substantive amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Michael Fermin, Chief Assistant District Attorney, 382-3662)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant application in the amount of $2,888,796, from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), will help fund the cost of the District Attorney’s (Department) Victim Witness Assistant Program (Program). This grant is comprised of federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in the amount of $1,980,043 and State of California (State) funding of $908,753. The grant requires a local match of $495,011, which will be funded within the Department’s existing budget allocation. The Department will return to the Board of Supervisors to accept awarded funding.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In accordance with Penal Code section 13835 et seq., the Department has administered the Program for the County since 1980. The Program has received grant funding annually since its inception to provide a wide variety of services to victims and witnesses of all crime types including crisis intervention, emergency financial assistance for food, clothing, and lodging, referrals to other agencies and resource assistance, coordination of volunteer support from the community, and assistance in applying for benefits from the California Victim Compensation Board (Cal VCB) for crime-related expenses. Victim Advocates on staff assist victims and witnesses throughout the criminal justice process, providing updates on court proceedings, accompanying victims to court, and providing emergency funeral and burial assistance to the families if deceased crime victims. Additionally, victim advocates deliver support services to those affected by mass casualty incidents both within the county and across the nation.
On July 9, 2026, the Department received notification that Cal OES made available their Victim Witness 2026 Non-Competitive Funding Opportunity on their electronic Grant Central System. Additionally, the Department received notification of their allotment of the funding and a Notice of Intent to Fund (Notice) from Cal OES. The Notice stated that Cal OES intends to fund the District Attorney’s office $2,888,796, with a required match of $495,011. The Department will return to the Board of Supervisors upon notification of the awarded funding.
The Cal OES Subrecipient Handbook, section 1.055 requires all grant recipients to obtain written authorization, in the form of a resolution or letter from the Board of Supervisors, stating the official executing the application is authorized to execute the document. Historically, grantors have required or requested delegation of authority to Division Chiefs because it is an administrative task to submit a grant application. Subrecipients must maintain this written authorization on file and make it available upon demand during audits. A copy of this grant application and Notice will be filed with the Clerk of the Board. Approval of this item and Resolution will authorize the Victim Services Chief to electronically execute and submit the grant application and all related documents, including non-substantive amendments, subject to review by County Counsel.
PROCUREMENT
N/A.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Daniella Hernandez, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 25, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on August 25, 2026.