Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2025 Council Approved Budget to Accept and Appropriate the 2025 Victim Witness Program Grant awarded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Hampton Victim Witness Assistance Program (the "Program") prides itself on its ability to provide quality, direct services to crime victims in the City of Hampton, Virginia (the "City"). The Program provides those services through a group of dedicated service providers who have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that the rights of crime victims are not overlooked in the criminal justice process. Collectively, the Program staff has over 50 years of experience working in the field of victim services. The Program continues to provide comprehensive information and direct services to crime victims and witnesses in accordance with the Virginia Crime Victims and Witnesses Rights Act and other applicable victims’ rights laws. For fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), it is estimated that 1,000 victims and 50 witnesses will receive direct services through the Program.
Discussion:
The Program is on the front line of victim/witness interactions when a violent act occurs in the City. The Program facilitates the first contact with victims/witnesses of crimes to offer services after a Hampton Police Department investigation. The Program addresses the emotional and financial hardships that normally accompany violent crimes and also helps guide and direct those individuals to available resources in the community, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for injuries sustained, counseling, and other services as needed.
The Program consistently adheres to policy initiatives of the City by participating in the City’s Job Performance Evaluation process; being actively involved in the community and utilizing volunteers to maximize direct services while minimizing the costs associated with staffing. The goal is to ensure that staff is provided with the leadership, guidance, and training necessary to achieve successful performance measures while modeling the City’s mission, values, and principles when providing services to the victims and witnesses served.
Impact:
The City has been awarded $246,744 in federal flow-through funds and $156,190 in state special funds through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for a total of $402,934. The City of Hampton provides a local cash match in the amount of $454,845, which is budgeted in the “Grant Matching Funds” account for a total grant award of $857,779.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services has awarded the 2025 Victim Witness Program Grant ("Grant") in the amount of $402,934;
WHEREAS, the 2025 Victim Witness Program Grant requires a local cash contribution of $454,845;
WHEREAS, the combined funds of the 2025 Victim Witness Program Grant award and the local cash contribution, which total $857,779, will be used by the Hampton Victim Witness Program to facilitate the first contact with victims and witnesses of violent acts and help to address the emotional and financial hardships usually associated with such acts; and
WHEREAS, the grant award is for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2025 Council Approved Budget to:
(1) accept and appropriate the 2025 Victim Witness Program Grant award in the amount of $402,934, and any supplemental funding, from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to the Grant Fund; and
(2) approve the transfer of $454,845 from Departmental Support - Grant Matching Funds to the Grant Fund for the purpose of facilitating the first contact with victims and witnesses of violent acts and helping address the emotional and financial hardships normally associated with such acts in accordance with the grant agreement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all actions necessary to implement this Grant award.