COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Office of District Attorney

DATE:

January 22, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 5, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James P. Fox, District Attorney

SUBJECT:

Reorganization of the Victim Center Program

Recommendation

Approve a Resolution authorizing the District Attorney/public Administrator to undertake the Victim/Witness Program and receive grant funding from the Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP)

Background

Since 1974 the San Mateo County Probation Department has operated the Victim/Witness Program, which offers comprehensive aid and assistance to the victims and witnesses of violent crime. This program has consistently been recognized both statewide and locally as a creative, pro-active model program.

Since 1990 the San Mateo County Probation Department has operated the Special Emphasis Project in connection with the already established Victim/Witness Program. The program supports an intensive outreach program to assist victims of assaultive behavior in East Palo Alto, East Menlo park and South Redwood City.

Discussion

The Victim Center Program is located in the District Attorney's Office in 44 of the 58 counties in California. The District Attorney's Office currently has Victim Advocates dedicated to victim/witness work, and both the District Attorney's office and the Probation Office believe efficiencies could be realized by having this operation located in the District Attorney's office. It is also believed that services to victims could also be improved by this centralization of efforts.

Fiscal Impact

The ATR transferring appropriate funds from the Probation Department to the District Attorney's Office to support the requirements of these grants was approved on December 4, 2001, as well as an Ordinance amending the Salary Ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors on August 7, 2001. There is no Net County Cost impact.

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