DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City wide
SUBJECT:
An ordinance authorizing the acceptance of funds, upon award, for the 2020 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Bexar County.
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the acceptance of funds, upon award, for the 2020 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 $291,972.00; Authorizing a city contribution of $15,074.00 and authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with Bexar County regarding the distribution of grant funds and designating Bexar County as the grant fiscal agent; establishing a personnel complement and appropriating a budget.
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 grant funds are used to support a joint City/County project for addressing child sexual abuse/assault.
The funds for the 2020 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.
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 City’s contribution to the grant is $15,074.00.
The County will utilize the FY2020 JAG grant to continue funding grant-funded positions that are currently funded by the existing JAG programs that include problem solving courts, jail diversion, and victim advocacy. The majority of the funds will go to fund 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 County contribution to the grant is approximately $300,000 to support positions and equipment for the County.
The grant is for a period ending September 30, 2023. The total joint grant amount for the City and Bexar County is $729,930.00 ($36,387 less than 2019).
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.
Bexar County, acting as the Fiscal Agent for this grant, was responsible for submitting the grant application and all certifications, the administration of the funds, including distributing the funds, monitoring the award, submitting reports including performance measures and program assessment data.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on this grant on August 25, 2020 and the Committee recommended this item for approval at the September 3, City Council “A” Session.
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:
This grant provides the City with the opportunity to augment its efforts to address child sexual abuse/assault. There are no other similar grants available to the City.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds for the 2020 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 $291,972.00 and a City Contribution of $15,074. The city contribution is available in the FY 2021 Proposed General Fund Budget contingent upon City Councilcouncil approval.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the acceptance of the grant funds and the execution of an Interlocal Agreement to continue funding two (2) Police Detective Investigator positions to conduct child sexual abuse/assault investigations.