COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

 

DATE:

June 7, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 22, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

N/A

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James P. Fox, District Attorney

SUBJECT:

Approval of Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board Criminal Restitution Contract Amendment

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the District Attorney to execute an Amendment to the existing contract with the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board extending the term of the contract through June 30, 2011 for the purpose of funding the Restitution Program for an additional $78,011 for FY 2010-2011 thereby increasing the amount of the contract to $156,022.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB) was first established in 1911 as the Board of Control. California created the nation’s first Victim Compensation Program in 1965 and responsibility for the program was placed under the State Board of Control in 1967.

 

In January 1997, the State Board of Control established a Restitution Committee to review and discuss statewide restitution and victim’s services issues. The State Board of Control approached several District Attorney Offices and offered to fund a number of paralegal positions to aid in the collection of restitution and to monitor the enforcement of court orders. In the fall of 1997, the State Board of Control entered into contract with San Mateo County to start the Restitution Program and fund one paralegal position. The County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the Salary Ordinance in December of 1997 and an appropriation transfer request in January 1998 to initiate the program in San Mateo County. A yearly amendment to the contract has been approved since 1997.

 

In 2001 the State Board of Control changed its name to VCGCB to better reflect their new roles and responsibilities. The VCGCB administers the State’s Governmental Claims Program, the Victims Compensation Program and the Revenue Recovery Program.

 

DISCUSSION:

The Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board has agreed to extend the term of this contract through June 30, 2011 and to pay the District Attorney’s Office $78,011 for FY 2010-2011. The Program will fund one paralegal that ensures a restitution order is obtained in all cases where victims have filed a crime related expense claim with the VCGCB. This includes notifying prosecuting attorneys and/or assigned case Probation Officers of restitution amounts and/or required modifications to restitution orders, tracking the disposition of cases in which restitution has been ordered and reporting case status and/or final disposition to the VCGCB. Approval of the subject resolution will permit the District Attorney to submit a contract amendment to the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board for continuance of this program.

 

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.

 

Approval of the Resolution contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Healthy Community by assisting victims of violent crimes in obtaining restitution and in the monitoring of court orders regarding payments for victims.

 

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2009-10
Projected

FY 2010-2011
Projected

Number of defendants who were ordered to pay restitution to the VCGCB

420

475

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

For FY 2010-11 the total cost of the Restitution Program is $108,167. The VCGCB contract will fund $78,011, or 72% and $30,156, or 28% will be covered by Net County Cost.