Title
Joint resolution authorizing the renewal of the State’s Attorney’s Office Prosecutor-Based Victim Assistance Program through a Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) grant awarded by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, including an emergency appropriation of $200,000 in federal funds.
Staff Summary
• This VOCA Prosecutor-Based Victim Assistance grant extension will enable continuation of this program that provides advocacy services to the currently under-served sexual assault, misdemeanor domestic violence, elder abuse and aggravated battery victim populations.
• The grant is administered through the ICJIA for the performance period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
• The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office currently receives Victim of Crime Act grant funding from ICJIA to support two Victim Specialist positions in the office. The Victim Specialist work with the victims throughout the criminal justice process by providing them with advocacy, on-going support and an understanding of the criminal court process.
• The funding will be used to fund the salary and benefits for a Sexual Assault Victim Specialist and the salary and benefits for a full-time Domestic Violence Victim Specialist for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. The salaries had been requested to be funded in the General Fund in Fiscal Year 2025 in the event the grant was not obtained. Therefore, no additional positions are required.
Body
WHEREAS, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced funding of $200,000 for the continuation of the State’s Attorney’s Prosecutor-Based Victim Assistance Program through a Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) grant which will provide support and advocacy to under-served victims of sexual assault, misdemeanor domestic violence, elder abuse and aggravated battery during the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the grant program will fund 80% of the salary and benefits for our Sexual Assault Victim Specialist (position number 41039) and 100% salary and benefits for a full-time Domestic Violence Victim Specialist (position number 41110); and
WHEREAS, the grant must be formally accepted by Lake County and it is necessary to appropriate the grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the State’s Attorney’s Office recommends that the Chairman of the County Board, the State’s Attorney and the Treasurer be authorized to execute the necessary documents to accept the grant,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, the ICJIA VOCA Prosecutor-Based Victim Assistance grant for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 is hereby accepted and execution is hereby authorized; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an emergency appropriation of $200,000 in federal grant funding and offsetting revenue is hereby authorized for the ICJIA VOCA Prosecutor-Based Victim Assistance grant as detailed in the attached chart of accounts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the State’s Attorney shall serve as project director for the program, and accurate records of all necessary grant compliance requirements shall be kept by the State’s Attorney Office; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board, the Lake County State’s Attorney, and the Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute the necessary documentation in order to accept the grant award.
DATED, at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, on January 14, 2025.