HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12021997 - D6 r .. Contra
Costa
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FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR
County Administrator
DATE: November 19, 1997
SUBJECT: LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANTS PROGRAM - FEDERAL BUREAU OF
JUSTICE ASSIySTANCE (BJA)
Specific Request (s) or Recommendation (s) & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDATIONS :
1 . OPEN the public hearing regarding the proposed use of the Bureau of
Justice Assistance Local Law Enforcement Block Grant award of $198 , 847
to Contra Costa County; hear public testimony; CLOSE the public hearing.
2 . AUTHORIZE County Administrator or his designee to sign and execute any
related grant award documents or amendments thereto.
3 . DESIGNATE the following previously established Advisory Board as
specified by Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance for project period
(10/1/97 to 9/30/99) to include Warren Rupf, Sheriff-Coroner; Gary
Yancey, District Attorney; Joe Ovick, Superintendent of County Office of
Education; Jennifer Wiley-Fletcher, Legal Director, Battered Women' s
Alternatives; and Peter L. Spinetta, Presiding Judge, Coordinated Trial
Courts .
4 . AUTHORIZE the advisory board to review the application for funding under
the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program and make non-binding
recommendations to the Board of Superviso or e use of funds
received under the Program.
Continued on Attachment: X YES Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other
Signature (s) :
Action of Board on: 12/02/1997 Approved as Recommended X Other A
Vote of Supervisors: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X III AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: ) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Contact: George Roemer (335-1055) Attested. December 2, 1997
cc: CAO-Justice System Programs Phil Batchelor, Clerk of
Warren Rupf, , Sheriff-Coroner the Board of Supervisors
Gary Yancey, District Attorney and County Administrator
Joe Ovick, Superintendent, COE
Jennifer Wiley-Fletcher, BWA By: DEPUTY
Peter L. Spinetta, Presiding
Judge, Superior Court
Auditor-Controller
p-�
Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program
11/19/97
Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT•
The Federal funds provided ($198, 847) under the Local Law Enforcement Block
Grants Program may not exceed 90 percent of the total costs of the program.
The County share must be in the form of cash ($22 , 072) . The match can be
absorbed within the budgets of the participating agencies .
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa County was invited to apply to the Bureau of Justice Assistance
for a direct award of $198, 847 under the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants
(LLEBG) Program, established with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
under the Fiscal Year 1997 Omnibus Appropriations Act (Pub.L. 104-208) .
Contra Costa County was awarded the entire $198, 847 . The County, as
recipient, agreed to provide $22, 072 over the grant period in a cash match to
be absorbed within the budgets of the participating agencies . Special
conditions required in the grant award include establishment of a trust fund
(114400) in which the Bureau of Justice Assistance will deposit all payment
received under this award and use of the grant award in the trust fund
(including interest) during the period not to exceed 24 months from the date
of the first Federal payment . The trust fund is an interest bearing account
that is specifically designated for this Program.
The County also agreed that prior to the obligation of funds at least one (1)
public hearing would be held regarding the proposed use of the payment under
the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants in relation to its entire budget .
Contra Costa County is proposing to spend the grant and matching funds in the
Block Grants categories of Law Enforcement Support and Enhancing
Adjudication, specifically in the area of hiring additional law enforcement
officers and improving the prosecution of domestic violence cases .
Under Law Enforcement Support, the Probation Department will receive $63 , 500
of the Federal grant funds to pay for a half-time Deputy Probation Officer
for a police ride-along. For enhanced adjudication, the Sheriff ' s Department
will receive $27, 000 of the Federal grant funds to continue to pay for a FTE
Sheriff ' s Specialist . The Specialist will be assigned to the Investigations
Division and work with a Deputy Sheriff/Investigator and half-time Crime
Analyst/Statistician responsible for investigation of major domestic violence
cases, as well as establishing liaison with other divisions and outside
agencies . These additional resources will allow for more emphasis on
domestic violence incidents, development of increased expertise resulting in
better service to victims and improved prosecution, increased reporting and
increased number of prosecutions .
The District Attorney' s Office will receive $108, 347 of the Federal grant
funds for continued use of . 75 Deputy District Attorney A-level and one B-
Clerk. These staff positions will become part of the District Attorney' s
comprehensive domestic violence prosecution unit (of 4 attorneys, 1 Sr.
Inspector, 2 Clerks and 1 Domestic Violence Counselor at Battered Women' s
Alternatives (BWA) . This entire unit in FY 1997/98 is grant supported. This
unit will be able to handle, on a vertical prosecution basis, all felony
level domestic violence, as well as the most serious misdemeanor cases . In
addition, staff will be able to coordinate and provide training in
conjunction with BWA, to the 25 law enforcement agencies in the County. A
full-time victim advocate for BWA funded through the District Attorney' s
grants, will provide victim support services through the criminal justice
process .
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