REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 14, 2022
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the 2022-23 Victim Witness Assistance Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve grant application to the California Office of Emergency Services for the San Bernardino County Victim Witness Assistance Program in the amount of $3,962,219, which includes grant funds of $3,234,297 plus a local match of $727,922, for the period of October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023.
2. Adopt Resolution, as required by the California Office of Emergency Services, authorizing the District Attorney to sign and submit the grant application, including the Certification of Assurance of Compliance and any non-substantive grant application amendments, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the District Attorney to transmit all grant application documents and amendments in relation to this grant application 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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Grant funds in the amount of $3,234,297 from California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) will help fund the cost of one Assistant Victim Services Chief, two Supervising Victim Advocates, 20 Victim Advocate IIs, one Mass Victimization Advocate, 22 Victim Advocate Is, and three Office Assistant IIIs. This grant requires a local cash match of $727,922, which will be funded from the District Attorney’s Office (Department) existing budget allocation. Once awarded, the Department will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for award acceptance and any necessary budget adjustments.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Victim Witness Assistance Program (Program) provides funding for a wide variety of social services to victims of and witnesses to crimes, including assistance with obtaining emergency funeral and burial funding, assisting with temporary lodging and relocation, referrals to medical and mental health providers, coordination of volunteer support from the community, and assistance to victims with applications for benefits from the California Victim Compensation Program for crime-related economic losses. Department staff (Advocates) assist victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system by explaining the process, accompanying them to court and, when necessary, providing transportation to and from court.
On March 17, 2022, Cal OES released its Request for Application (RFA) for Program grant funding for the upcoming period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. This grant funding is only available to past year recipients of the Victim Witness Assistance grant. In accordance with Penal Code section 13835 et seq., the Department has administered this Program for the County since 1980. Further participation in the Program will allow the Department to continue to provide these vital services for County residents who are victims or witnesses of crimes. Consequently, the Department seeks Board approval to apply for these funds.
The Cal OES Subrecipient Handbook, Section 1350, requires all grant recipients to obtain written authorization, in the form of a resolution or letter from the Board, that the official executing the agreement is authorized to execute the document. Subrecipients must maintain this written authorization on file and make it available upon demand during audits. Historically, Cal OES has requested that each county’s District Attorney be the authorized official to execute the grant application and any subsequent non-substantive amendments necessary for the San Bernardino County Victim Witness Assistance Program.
PROCUREMENT
The 2022 Cal OES Subrecipient Handbook Section 6.020 provides direction for contracts and procurement bids. The Department will follow the Subrecipient Handbook and County Policy 11-04 for any contracts or procurements for services or supplies paid with grant funds.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Katherine Hardy, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 20, 2022; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on May 20, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on May 27, 2022.