TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action to accept a grant award, designate the City Manager to sign and enter into a contract with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Victims of Crime Grant in the amount of $60,395 for a court victim advocate position, software program for advocacy, equipment and membership to the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. Funds for the grant is available under the grants fund, police support services, salary/benefits (22022123-51100-52600). There is a match requirement with this grant application of $15,099 will be taken from the Grants Fund, Support Services, Salary/Benefits, Arizona Criminal Justice Commission Grant (10022123-51100-52600). Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
On September 15, 2015 the Mayor and City Council approved a grant submission to the Arizona Department of Public Safety to request funding for a full-time Court Victim Advocate position. On December 4, 2015 the Maricopa Police Department received a notice of an approved grant award through Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS).The current victim advocate position was requested as full-time but part-time funding through June 30, 2016 as this position is currently part-time funded through ACJC (avoid supplanting). This position then will be full-time funded through AZDPS from July 1, 2016-September 30, 2016
The full-time court victim advocate sends initial notification letters when victim rights are provided at an incident and notification letters through the misdemeanor criminal justice process at City Court. At the minimum, there is between 40-60 initial notification letters sent on a monthly basis and for the court proceedings an average of 20-25 letters are sent. In addition the court-advocate provides personal advocacy and lay legal advocacy through transportation, court accompaniment and assistance with victim compensation claims/restitution. The court advocate position is resp...
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