Title
Joint resolution authorizing an amendment for a six-month extension for 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 $52,629 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, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Additional funding to support the program for up to an additional 18 months may be awarded after the initial funding period contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
• The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office currently receives Victim of Crime Act grant funding from ICJIA to support two Victim/Witness Coordinator positions in the office. The Victim/Witness Coordinators 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 additional funding of $52,629 will be used to fund 81 percent of the salary and benefits for a Sexual Assault Victim/Witness Coordinator and the salary and benefits for a full-time Domestic Violence Victim/Witness Coordinator for the period of January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022.
• If funding for these positions end, and new funding is not secured, the positions will be eliminated.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the ICJIA announced a six-month extension and funding increase of $52,629 for the continuation of the State’s Attorney’s Prosecutor-Based Victim Assistance Program through a 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, 2022 through June 30, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the grant program will fund 81 percent of the salary and benefits for a Sexual Assault Victim/Witness Coordinator and the salary and benefits for a full-time Domestic Violence Victim/Witness Coordinator; and
WHEREAS, the grant extension must be formally accepted by Lake County and it is necessary to appropriate the grant extension 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 and execute the grant extension,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County,
Illinois, the ICJIA VOCA Prosecutor-Based Victim Assistance grant extension for the period of January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022, is hereby accepted and execution is hereby authorized; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, personnel expenses for both Victim/Witness Coordinator positions are already appropriated in the State’s Attorney’s Office approved FY22 budget in accounts 101-3311010-51110, 74080, 74100, 74110, and 101-3330030-51110, 74080, 74100 and 74110; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, grant revenue in the amount of $29,754 be appropriated in account 101-3311010-45334; and grant revenue in the amount of $22,875 in account 101-3330030-45334 for a total of $52,629; 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 11, 2022.