Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2021 Council Approved Budget to Accept and Appropriate the FY 2021 Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund ("DVVF") Grant Awarded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to the City of Hampton, Virginia
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund ("DVVF") Grant provides special state grant funds for the continued prosecution of sexual assault crimes and sexual crimes of violence in the City of Hampton ("City"). Prosecutable crimes also include violations of protective orders.
Discussion:
The DVVF prosecutor works closely with the Hampton Police Division as well as other law enforcement agencies and medical personnel. Furthermore, the prosecutor serves as a member of Hampton's Sexual Assault Response Team ("SART"). SART is comprised of members of the Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney's Office; Victim Witness Services; Hampton Police Division; Riverside Regional Hospital and Hampton Sentara Hospital's Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners ("SANE" nurses) and Hampton University and Thomas Nelson Community College law enforcement agencies.
Cases are tried before Hampton's Circuit Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
Impact:
This grant award will help support the prosecution of approximately 100 cases. The City has historically provided a cash match for this grant. For the current fiscal year, the City has been awarded $45,000 in grant funds. The required cash match of up to $82,891 covers the remaining salary and fringe benefit expenses which are budgeted in Departmental Support - Grant Match for a total funding of $127,891. This is a special one-year extension of the previous three-year grant cycle. The DVVF prosecutor position adheres to the City's Human Resources employment policies and performance evaluation process.
Recommendation:
...Rec
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice has awarded the City of Hampton, Virginia (“City”) a 2021 Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund Grant (“DVVF Grant”) in the amount of the $45,000 in special state funding;
WHEREAS, the DVVF Grant award requires a cash match of up to $82,891 (“DVVF Grant Match”);
WHEREAS, the combined funds of the DVVF Grant and the DVVF Grant Match, which total $127,891, will be used by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to fund a position (with fringe benefits) dedicated to the prosecution of sexual assault crimes and sexual crimes of violence within the City; and
WHEREAS, the grant award is for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2021 Council Approved Budget to (1) accept and appropriate the DVVF Grant in the amount of $45,000, and any supplemental funding, awarded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to the Grant Fund; and (2) approve the transfer of up to $82,891 from the General Fund's Departmental Support - Grant Match to the Grant Fund for the purpose of funding the salary and fringe benefits of a position in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to prosecute sexual assault crimes and sexual crimes of violence within the City in accordance with the grant agreement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all actions necessary to implement this grant award.