COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

District Attorney’s Office

 

DATE:

July 28, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 16, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

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 the District Attorney to submit a grant application to the California Department of Justice for grant funds in the amount of $103,441 for the Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program for FY2005-2006 and to execute the Grant Award Agreement to receive such funds.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All

Goal 8: Help vulnerable people – the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others – achieve a better quality of life.

The Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program contributes to this commitment and goal by providing assistance to victims of domestic violence, which, in turn, facilitates more effective prosecution of domestic violence.

 

BACKGROUND:

AB801, Chapter 599, Statutes of 1994, authorized funding to be allocated by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) 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 DOJ issued a Spousal Abuser Prosecution Program solicitation of interest document to all District Attorney 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 DOJ.

 

From the inception of the grant program in 1995 through June 30, 2005 the Domestic Violence Victim Advocates have provided 39,047 service contacts to victims of domestic violence. Since May 1999, both Domestic Violence 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. The two victim advocates funded by the grant provide these services, which inherently facilitate effective prosecution of domestic violence.

 

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 partial salaries for two Domestic Violence Advocates. For FY2005-06 the DOJ requires submission of a proposal totaling $103,441, with DOJ funding of $86,201 and a 20% match from the County of San Mateo of $17,240. DOJ funding has been reduced by $10,599 from last year. The DOJ funding will cover 61% of the salaries of the Advocates. An additional 12% of their salaries are covered by match funds. This results in a total projected net county cost of $56,069. Funds have been included in the FY2005-2006 Recommended Budget to cover these additional costs.