DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: Justice Assistance Grant
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the acceptance of funds upon award, for a 2014 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for a Child Welfare Strategic Alliance Program, a City/County project addressing child sexual abuse/assault not to exceed $264,219.00; authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Bexar County regarding the distribution of grant funds and designating Bexar County as the grant fiscal agent; establishes a personnel complement and appropriates a budget; the grant period will be from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2018.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Justice Assistance Grants were first awarded in 2005. Provisions of the grant require the City and Bexar County to submit a joint application. The solicitation date for this grant was May 1, 2014. The grant funds are used to support a joint City/County project for addressing child sexual abuse/assault.
The funds for the 2014 JAG grant will be used to continue supporting the joint City/County project called Child Welfare Strategic Alliance Program. The purpose of the project is to conduct joint investigations with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office, the Bexar County Housing and Human Services Department, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, and ChildSafe (formally called the Alamo Children's Advocacy Center). Furthermore, the project will reduce the number of interviews required of a child victim, minimizing the negative impact of the investigation and the re-victimization of the child. The City's portion of the grant will be used to continue to fund two (2) Detective Investigator positions. These Detective Investigators will investigate sexual abuse/assault cases involving children. Tasked with the investigation of more than 28 different offenses, a large portion of the Special Victims Unit's caseload involves children as victims.
The County will utilize the FY2014 JAG grant to support grant funded positions currently funded by the existing JAG programs, which include problem solving courts, jail diversion, and victim advocacy. The majority of the funds will support various positions (Adult & Juvenile Probation Officers, Prosecutors, Court Case Managers, etc.) in the Bexar County Drug Courts, the Bexar County District Attorney's Office, and the Juvenile and Adult Probation Offices.
The grant is for a four year period beginning October 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2018. The total joint grant amount for the City and Bexar County is $660,547.00. The grant funds are to be split 60% ($396,328.00) for the County and 40% ($264,219.00) for the City. The proposed split of funds is consistent with past agreements between the City and County.
The County will be responsible for submitting the grant application, the administration of the funds, including distributing the funds, monitoring the award, submitting reports including performance measures and program assessment data.
ISSUE:
The proposed ordinance continues the City Council's policy of seeking intergovernmental financial assistance for City crime prevention and enforcement programs addressing sexual abuse/assault of children.
ALTERNATIVES:
The JAG grant pays salaries for two fulltime Police Detective Investigator positions. Choosing not to renew this grant will require the General Fund to absorb these positions at a time when budget austerity would make this difficult.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds upon award, for a 2014 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for the Child Welfare Strategic Alliance Program. The total joint program budget for the City and Bexar County is $660,547.00. The City's portion of the grant award will be $264,219.00. A General Fund cash match is not required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the acceptance of the grant funds and the negotiation of an Interlocal Agreement so as to continue funding two Police Detective Investigator positions to conduct child sexual abuse/assault investigations.