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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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District Attorney’s Office
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DATE:
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August 26, 2004
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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September 14,2004
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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James P. Fox, District Attorney
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SUBJECT:
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Application for Renewal of the Victim/Witness Grant
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Recommendation
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the California Office of Emergency Services in the amount of $376,302 for the Victim/Witness Program for FY2004-05.
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Background
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In 1974, the Probation Department submitted a grant proposal to the California Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP), requesting funds to operate the Victim/Witness Program. In February 2002 the program became a division of the District Attorney’s Office. The program offers comprehensive assistance to victims and witnesses of violent crimes. The California Office of Criminal Justice Planning had administered this program since it was implemented; however, effective January 1, 2004 this grant award was transferred to the California Office of Emergency Services (OES). Since 1975, the Board has authorized the submission of a grant application every year.
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Discussion
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An application is required each year to receive state funds through the OES. The day-to-day functions of the program remain in operation with the assistance of volunteers and Senior Employment Program trainees. The Victim/Witness Assistance Program received over 2,800 victim referrals from the law enforcement agencies in the county in FY2003-2004 and we have provided services to over 1,500 victims this past fiscal year. Examples of the type of services provided include: crisis intervention; emergency assistance; resource and referral assistance; claims assistance; and court escort/support. We assisted over 500 domestic violence victims, over 200 sexual assault victims (adult & children), and close to 300 assault victims. In addition to the local law enforcement agencies within the county, we also work closely with the Keller Center, CORA, Rape Trauma Services, and a variety of other county agencies that provide services to victims. Staff members also regularly participate on the Child Sexual Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team, the Sexual Assault Task Force and the Domestic Violence Death Review Team.
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Vision Alignment
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The Victim/Witness Assistance Program provides assistance to all crime victims within San Mateo County in conjunction with Goal #8: Help vulnerable people – the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others – achieve a better quality of life.
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Fiscal Impact
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The grant application for fiscal year 2004-05 remains at $376,302. This is the maximum grant amount allowed and is the same as in previous years. Due to increases in salaries and benefits and operating costs, the actual cost of this program is projected to exceed the maximum grant amount of $376,302. This results in a total projected net county cost of $58,188. Funds have been included in the FY2004-05 Recommended Budget to cover these additional costs.
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