Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2019 Council Approved Budget and Accept and Appropriate the 2019 Violence Against Women's Act Program - VAWA Prosecution Grant Awarded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to the City of Hampton, Virginia
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this resolution is to accept and appropriate federal grant funds and certain in-kind services to permit continuation of the Commonwealth's Attorney Violence Against Women's Act (VAWA) prosecution program.
In 1994, the United States Congress passed the Violence Against Women’s Act ("VAWA") as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. VAWA includes the Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution ("STOP") grant program. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services administers the STOP Violence Against Women grant in Virginia, known as "V-STOP". V-STOP offers grant funds to successful applicants for activities which increase the apprehension, prosecution, and adjudication of persons committing violent crimes against women. In 2015, the Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney applied for multi-year grant funding to support the VAWA prosecution program which is part of the Hampton Domestic Violence Community Unified Response Effort ("CURE"). The grant runs on a three (3) year cycle (in this case from 2019 through 2021), and must be reviewed each year. The last two awards were received for 2017 (See Hampton City Council File No. 17-0228; Resolution adopted July 12, 2017) and 2018 (See Hampton City Council File No. 18-0163; Resolution adopted July 11, 2018).
Discussion:
Continuation of the VAWA prosecution program will allow the Commonwealth's Attorney to retain an established position for a dedicated domestic violence prosecutor to prosecute cases of domestic violence. The VAWA prosecution program also provides a special Victim Advocate and comprehensive training for law enforcement officers.
The City's in-kind match is primarily met through the use of the services of an administrative assistant who supports the prosecutor; a small portion is also met through supplies.
Impact:
This grant award will help support the prosecution of approximately 800 cases. The City has historically provided an in-kind match for this grant. For the current fiscal year, the City has been awarded federal funds in the amount of $64,801.00. The local in-kind match of $31,311 covers the remaining salary and fringe benefit expense. This is the first year of a three-year renewable grant. The VAWA prosecutor position adheres to the City's Human Resources employment policies and performance evaluation process.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Criminal Justice Services has awarded the City of Hampton, Virginia ("City") a 2019 Violence Against Women's Act grant ("VAWA Grant") in the amount of $64,801 in federal funds;
WHEREAS, the VAWA Grant award requires an in-kind match of $31,311 ("VAWA Grant Match");
WHEREAS, the combined funds of the VAWA Grant and the VAWA Grant Match, which total $96,112, will be used by the Commonwealth Attorney's Office to fund a position (with benefits) dedicated to the prosecution of domestic violence crimes within the City; and
WHEREAS, the grant award is for the period from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2019 Council Approved Budget to accept and appropriate the VAWA Grant in the amount of $64,801 in federal funds, matching in-kind services in the amount of $31,311, and any supplemental funding for the purpose of funding the salary and fringe benefits of a position in the Commonwealth Attorney's Office for the prosecution of domestic violence crimes within the City.
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.