HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-06-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRANT (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: June 26, 2001
City Manager
Item to be presented by: Adele Macuherson
SUBJECT: OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING, VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN RESPONSE UNIT GRANT EXTENSION
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Accept Office of Criminal Justice Planning Violence Against Women Response Unit Grant
and related cash match included in the 2001-2002 budget.
BACKGROUND
Since June 1998, the City of Santa Clarita has received $90,000 annually for a competitive
grant award from the State of California, Office of Criminal Justice Planning, for a Violence
Against Women Response Unit. The City Council has allocated $30,000 annually from the
City Council Contingency Fund for the required cash match.
During the first three years of this grant, the City has been successful in implementing the
grant -funded program. Funding has been used to hire a law enforcement investigator
dedicated to domestic violence cases and to provide community prevention and education
programs. Accomplishments as a result of the funding are as follows:
• Decreased number of domestic violence assaults in Santa Clarita.
• Increased networking opportunities and improved working relationship among agencies
working in the field through the establishment of the Family Violence Task Force.
• An improved case -filing rate with the District Attorney's Office. The average case -filing
rate has increased from 50% to 72% resulting in more cases going to trial.
• Received honors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and the Valley
Trauma Center for Violence Against Women Investigator efforts.
• Referred over 600 victims to service providers.
• Arrested over 400 violent offenders.
The City's grant award has been extended for another year through June 30, 2002,
contingent upon the City Council's allocation of an additional $30,000 cash match. The
grant extension will be used to continue funding an investigator dedicated to violence
against women/domestic violence cases, continued education and prevention efforts, and
support to the Family Violence Task Force. The grant allows better tracking of offenders,
APPROWED Agenda Item:
stiffer penalties for offenders, providing victims with resources to seek help, and
compilation of statistics.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Decline acceptance of the Office of Criminal Justice Planning, Violence Against Women
Response Unit grant.
Direct staff to find alternate funding.
Other direction as determined by City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of this grant program is $120,000. This includes $90,000 from the Office of
Criminal Justice Planning and a required 25% City cash match of $30,000. The $30,000
cash match would be transferred from Public Safety's account number 6100-8071. Through
the fiscal year 2001-2002 budget process, the Sheriffs Department has submitted a decision
package requesting continuation of the Domestic Violence Investigator with funding 100%
from the General Fund. The acceptance of the grant results in $110,000 savings to the
General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
PM:ada
mundl\ag mpts\2001\0102vau .da