Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2018 Council Approved Budget and Accept and Appropriate the 2018 Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund Grant ("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. 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 the Hampton 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 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.
Discussion:
See Purpose/Background.
Impact:
This grant award will help support the prosecution of approximately 75 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 $79,901 covers the remaining salary and fringe benefit expense which are budgeted in Departmental Support - Grants and Retirement and Employee Benefits respectively for total funding of $124,901. This is the first year of a three-year renewable grant. The DVVF prosecutor position adheres to the City's Human Resources employment policies and performance evaluation process.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve said appropriation.
Body
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice has awarded the City of Hampton, Virginia (“City”) a 2018 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 $79,901 (“DVVF Grant Match”);
WHEREAS, the combined funds of the DVVF Grant and the DVVF Grant Match, which total $124,901, will be used by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to fund a position (with 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, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2018 Council Approved Budget to accept and appropriate the DVVF Grant in the amount of $45,000, and any supplemental funding, to the Grant Fund; and (2) the transfer of $50,150 from Departmental Support - Grant and $29,715 from Retirement and Employee Benefits to the Grant Fund for the purpose of funding the salary and fringe benefits of a position in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for the prosecution of sexual assault crimes and sexual crimes of violence within the City; and
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.