COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Office of District Attorney

DATE:

August 29, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 10, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James P. Fox, District Attorney

SUBJECT:

Application for Renewal of the Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program Grant

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing submission of an application to the Department of Justice for grant funds in the amount of $114,040 for the Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program for FY2002-2003.

Background

AB801, Chapter 599, Statutes of 1994, authorized funding to be allocated by the Department of Justice for a statewide Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program (SAPP). The SAPP program was previously established by Statute in 1985 under Section 273.8 of the California Penal Code. This established a prosecution program focusing on defendants under arrest for domestic violence.

Discussion

In October 1994, the District Attorney and staff made a presentation to the Board regarding domestic violence and the efforts of the District Attorney's Special Prosecutions Unit, which handled domestic violence vertical prosecutions. Shortly after that presentation, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program solicitation of interest document to all District Attorney's Offices throughout the state. The subject grant program was established in the spring of 1995 and an application is required each year to receive funds through the Department of Justice.

From the inception of the grant program in 1995 through June 30, 2002, the Domestic Violence Victim Advocates have provided in excess of 27,500 service contracts to victims of domestic violence. Since May 1999, both of the DV Advocates have been bilingual in Spanish and have been able to provide bilingual and bicultural advocacy whenever needed. The service contacts include counseling, support, referrals, assistance with restraining orders and other protective measures and court accompaniment. These services, that inherently facilitate effective prosecution of domestic violence, are provided by the two victim advocates funded by the grant.

Because the services provided by this unit are critically important both to the victims and the success of the prosecutions, if State funding is restricted or eliminated by the legislature in the future, the District Attorney's office would request authorization from the Board to provide offsetting revenue to maintain the program in its present form.

Fiscal Impact

Funding for this program includes salaries and benefits for two Domestic Violence Counselors as well as corresponding services and supplies costs. For FY2002-03 the DOJ requires submission of a proposal totaling $114,040, with DOJ funding of $95,033 and a 20% match from the County of San Mateo. This is a 21% reduction in previous funding from the DOJ. The DOJ funding will cover 92% of the salaries of the advocates. The balance of their salaries and 33% of their benefits are covered by match funds. This reduction in DOJ funding will result in an increase of $29,960 in the appropriations already budgeted for FY2002-03 for the Office of the District Attorney. Anticipated savings in appropriations for FY2002-03 will cover this increase and, therefore, there will be no net county cost impact.

Vision Alignment

The grant with the Department of Justice keeps the commitment of Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and goal number 8: Help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others - achieve a better quality of life. This grant contributes to this commitment and goal by assisting those who are victimized due to domestic violence.