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COUNTY OF SAN MATEOInter-Departmental Correspondence |
Office of District Attorney |
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DATE: |
May 19, 2003 |
BOARD MEETING DATE: |
June 10, 2003 |
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TO: |
Honorable Board of Supervisors |
FROM: |
James P. Fox, District Attorney |
SUBJECT: |
Application for Renewal of the Statutory Rape Prosecution Grant |
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Recommendation |
Adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a proposal to the Office of Criminal Justice Planning in the amount of $130,500 for the Statutory Rape Prosecution Program for FY2003-04 |
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Background |
The Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP) established a Statutory Rape Prosecution Program several years ago and solicited interest from all counties regarding the establishment of vertical prosecution units. San Mateo County decided to defer involvement until case statistics supported the need for a unit in the District Attorney's Office. In FY1998-99, after reviewing three years of statistics involving statutory rape, the District Attorney requested approval to initiate the program. In July 1998 your Board approved an amendment to the Salary Ordinance to permit the initiation of recruitment activities. In order for the District Attorney's final FY1998-99 budget appropriation to be in phase with the Master Salary Ordinance, a September revision was submitted, adding salaries, benefits and offsetting revenue to fund the attorney position. |
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Discussion |
An application is required each year to receive state funds through the Office of Criminal Justice Planning. From the Statutory Rape Unit's inception in January 1999 through December 2002, the unit has received 330 suspected statutory rape reports to investigate and prosecute. Of those, 260 cases were filed. Of those cases, 252 were filed as felonies, 8 cases were filed as misdemeanors, and 53 cases have been rejected for filing by this Unit. The Unit has worked in tandem with the various police agencies of San Mateo County, Child Protective Services, Health Services, the San Mateo County School Districts, the Juvenile Probation Department and the San Mateo County District Attorney's Investigators to successfully prosecute the crime of unlawful sex with a minor. As of December 31, 2002, the Unit was able to obtain 221 felony convictions and 10 misdemeanor convictions. From January 1, 2003 to the present, the Unit has obtained 21 additional felony convictions, many resulting in state prison sentences. There are currently 35 cases under prosecution and review and 19 additional cases with outstanding arrest warrants. |
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Vision Alignment |
The grant with the Office of Criminal Justice Planning keeps the commitment of Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and goals number 6: Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods, and number 8: Help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others - achieve a better qualify of life. This grant contributes to these commitments and goals by prosecuting those who victimize children and helping vulnerable people. |
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Fiscal Impact |
Total funding for FY2003-04 will be covered from two sources. Once the Office of Criminal Justice Planning approves the grant proposal, the maximum grant program amount of $130,500 will be available. Due to increases in salaries and benefits, the actual cost of this program is projected to exceed the grant amount. This results in a total projected net county cost of $43,001. Funds have been included in the FY2003-04 Recommended Budget to cover these additional costs. |
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