HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11142000 - SD2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR
County Administrator
DATE: October 31,2000
SUBJECT: LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANTS PROGRAM FEDERAL BUREAU
OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE(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 Grants award of$152,942 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 (10/1/00 to 9/30/02) 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 Mark Simons, Presiding Judge, Superior
Court.
4. AUTHORIZE the advisory board to review the grant of funds under the Local Law Enforcement Block
Grants Program and make non-binding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for the use of funds
received under the Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Federal funds provided$152,942 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 $16,994. The match will
be absorbed within the budgets of the participating agencies.
Continued on Attachment: YES Signature: 1144AV�_
Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other
Signature(s):
Action of Board on: NNember 14, 2000 Approved as Recommended Xx Other
Vote of Supervisors: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
__ML_Unanimous (Absent_ - - - } AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Contact: George Roemer(335-1055) Attested:_ mer 14, 2000
cc: CAO-Justice System Programs Phil Batchelor,Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
'`Marren Rupf, Sheriff-Coroner and County Admin' tr for
Gary Yancey,District Attorney
Joe Ovick, Superintendent,COE By ,DEPUTY
Jennifer Wiley-Fletcher,BWA (J
Mark Simons,Presiding Judge,Superior Court
Auditor-Controller
Local Law Enforcement Bloch Grants Program
10/16/00
Page 2
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa County was invited to apply to the Bureau of Justice Assistance for a direct award of$152,942 under
the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants (LLEBG) Program, established with the Bureau of Justice Assistance
(BJA) under the Fiscal Year 2000 Omnibus Appropriations Act(105-277). Contra Costa County was awarded the
entire $152,942. The County, as recipient, agreed to provide $16,994 over the grant period in a cash match to be
absorbed within the budgets of the participating agencies. The County 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 Grant in relation to its entire budget.
Contra Costa County is proposing to spend the grant and matching funds in the Block Grants purpose area of
"Supporting Law Enforcement" to hire, train, and employ on a continuing basis, additional law enforcement
officers and necessary support personnel, specifically in the area of improving the prosecution of domestic violence
cases and gang prevention activities. 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 Sheriffs Department will receive $52,470 of the Federal grant funds to pay for a full time equivalent Sheriffs
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.
The Probation Department will receive $31,350 of the Federal grant funds for a halftime Deputy Probation Office.
The position will work on enhancing gang prevention activities.
The District Attorney's Office will receive $69,122 of the Federal grant funds for .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. 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.