TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall hear and possibly take action to provide consent to submit grant applications to the Arizona Office of the Arizona Attorney General in an amount not to exceed $25,640 for a part-time Victim Advocate Position. Consent to submit designates the City Manager to sign all documents for the application process. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
Office of the Arizona Attorney General Victims' Rights Fund. The Arizona Revised Statutes establishes a Victims Rights Program in the Attorney General's Office. The Program is charged with assisting and monitoring state and local entities that are required to implement and comply with victims' rights laws. FY14-15 awards are for the period July 1, 2014 -June 30, 2015. There is no matching requirement.
The Maricopa Police Department has a need for a full-time Victim Advocate position and applied for a part-time position through the Arizona Criminal Justice Crime Victim Assistance grant with City Council approval on March 4, 2014.
The second half of the position will coordinate a variety of victim assistance and community service programs and activities which may include crisis response training, community education and awareness programs, follow-up to domestic violence victims, legal advocacy services to participate in the criminal justice system and assistance with compensation/restitution claims.
The Maricopa Police Department is implementing a lethality assessment model response for domestic violence and this advocate would provide follow-up resources to help in reducing victimization by proving direct links to the social service agencies in the community and to ensure a 24/7 crisis response by the volunteers. The advocate may act as a liaison between the police department, and the city prosecutor's office to ensure quality and functional assistance to crime victims.
This item will be presented by Steve Stahl, Police Chief and Community Programs Manager, Mary Witkofski.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Mayor and City Council take action to provide consent to submit grant application to the Arizona Office of the Arizona Attorney General in an amount not to exceed $25,640 for a part-time Victim Advocate Position. Consent to submit designates the City Manager to sign all documents for the application process. Discussion and Action.