Title
Joint resolution authorizing an 18-month extension for the State’s Attorney’s Office Prosecutor-based Victim Assistance Program through a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant awarded by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) including an emergency appropriation of $268,887 in federal funds for the period of July 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023.
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 July 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023.
• 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 $268,887, will be used to fund a portion 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. No county funds are required.
• If funding for these positions end, and new funding is not secured, the positions will be eliminated.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced an eighteen-month extension and additional funding in the amount of $268,887 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 July 1 2022, through December 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS the grant program will fund a portion 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,
WHEREAS, if funding for these positions ends, and new funding is not secured, the positions will be eliminated.
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 July 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023, is hereby accepted and execution is hereby authorized; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an emergency appropriation in the amount of $268,887 in federal grant funding and offsetting revenue is hereby authorized for the VOCA Prosecutor-based Victim Assistance Program 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’s Office; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lake County Chairman of the Board, the Lake County State’s Attorney, and the Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute the necessary documentation to accept the grant award.
DATED, at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, on August 9, 2022.