REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Subaward for the 2026-27 San Bernardino County Victim/Witness Assistance Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Grant Subaward with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to accept grant funds in the amount of $2,888,796, for the San Bernardino County Victim/Witness Assistance Program retroactively effective October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
2. Authorize the Victim Services Chief or the Chief of Bureau of Administration to electronically sign and submit invoices related to the grant, as required by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, on behalf of the County.
3. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Michael Fermin, Chief Assistant District Attorney, 382-3662)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The receipt of grant funds 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 funding of $908,753. The grant requires a local match of $495,011 and is funded within the Department’s existing budget allocation.
The requested budget adjustment, as shown in the table below, is due to a difference between what was budgeted during the annual budget development in 2026-27 and the award amount received. The Department initially projected receiving $1,429,915 in VOCA funds and $275,018 in State funds. However, the award amount for the 2026-27 grant cycle is $1,980,043 in VOCA and $908,753 in State funds. The net increase of the grant award is $1,183,863.
Budget adjustments for 2026-27 are shown in the table below
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
4500001000 |
40509155 |
Federal - Pass Through |
Increase |
$550,128 |
|
4500001000 |
40408955 |
State - Grants |
Increase |
$633,735 |
|
4500001000 |
51001010 |
Regular Salary |
Increase |
$1,183,863 |
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 of 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 September 1, 2026 (Item No. 29), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the Department’s grant application to Cal OES requesting grant funding in the amount of $2,888,796, with a local match of $495,011 to fund Program costs for the period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. This grant is used to offset the salary and benefit costs of one Victim Services Assistant Chief position, two Supervising Victim Advocate positions, 30 Victim Advocate positions, one Mass Victimization Advocate position, and three Senior Legal Support Assistant positions. Additional personnel and operating costs for the Program will be funded using the Department’s general fund.
On October 1, 2026, the Department received notification through Cal OES’ grants portal that it had been awarded the Victim Witness Assistance grant from Cal OES in the amount of $2,888,796. This item is being presented to the Board at this time, as this is the first date available for presentation since the Department learned it had been awarded the grant. The Department continues to provide services to victims of crime and will submit claims for expenses incurred during the grant cycle as Cal OES provides reimbursements.
Cal OES requests the Victim Services Chief or the Chief of Bureau of Administration to electronically submit invoices for reimbursement for expenses pertaining to this program. The Department seeks delegated authority for the electronic submission of the invoices on behalf of the County.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Daniella Hernandez, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 8, 2026; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Manager, 382-3196) on October 9, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on October 13, 2026.