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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04172012 - C.39RECOMMENDATION(S): APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or his designee, to apply for and accept a continuation grant in the amount of $900,000 on behalf of the County’s Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative (ZTDV) from the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women for the “Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program” for a 24 month term upon award. FISCAL IMPACT: $900,000 Department of Justice Grant (CFDA# 16.590). No County match required. BACKGROUND: Since 2004, ZTDV has successfully implemented the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders program (GTEA), striving to formalize a coordinated community response. The funds will enable ZTDV to do the following: (1) Increase availability of services at the Family Justice Center; (2) Provide more robust and comprehensive victim advocacy and support services, assisting 275 victims of felony domestic violence (DV) and 425 victims of misdemeanor APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 04/17/2012 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor ABSENT:Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor Contact: Earl Maciel 3-1648 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: April 17, 2012 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: Carrie Del Bonta, Deputy cc: C.39 To:Board of Supervisors From:Joe Valentine, Employment & Human Services Director Date:April 17, 2012 Contra Costa County Subject:Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) DV with safety planning, and linking them to support services (3) Enhance Restraining Order assistance by providing guidance to 600 victims in submitting pleadings; (4) Conduct six VAWA/U-Visa workshops targeting 150 DV victims; (5) Enhance Judicial handling of DV and sexual assault cases by operating a DV misdemeanor court in Martinez, stationing a legal technician to assist with restraining order filings at the Pittsburg Courthouse and offering three trainings to bench officers and Court personnel on handling DV cases ; (6) Continue to adapt and implement the successful training curriculum for law enforcement, training 500 officers; (7) Implement and refine a countywide risk assessment protocol; (8) Develop training materials and tools for the implementation of the risk assessment protocol; (9) Intensive monitoring of DV offenders, with a bilingual Deputy Probation Officer supervising 35-40 high-risk cases. This re-application will allow ZTDV to continue with these activities while continuing to enhance the system that assists domestic violence and sexual assault victims in Contra Costa County. ZTDV partners for the Grants to Encourage Arrest program include: Superior Court, District Attorney, Probation, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, Community Violence Solutions, Bay Area Legal Aid, Antioch Police Department, Concord Police Department, Richmond Police Department and the Employment and Human Services Department (Aging and Adult Services). Since its inception, the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative (ZTDV) has been recognized for its innovation in the area of system change through a comprehensive, coordinated, community-wide approach that interrupts the progressive cycle of violence, recognizing the cost effectiveness of integrated and collaborative service strategies. GTEA recognizes that sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are serious violations of criminal law requiring coordination with nonprofit, nongovernmental victim advocates and representatives from the criminal justice system. This program challenges the whole community to communicate, identify problems, and share ideas that will result in new responses and the application of best practices to enhance victim safety and offender accountability which is consistent with Zero Tolerance’s vision and objectives. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Iniative will be unable to use these funds to prevent domestic violence. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: None