Accepting a US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women – Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Grant

WHEREAS, Sauk County, through the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department and Hope House applied for a US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women – Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant (USDOJ, OVAW-ICJR) grant; and,

WHEREAS, the grant was sought to fund the following for calendar years 2018-2020:

Salary, benefits, training and equipment for a 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) Sauk County Assistant District Attorney to handle sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking cases and to provide training to law enforcement.

Salary, benefits and training for a 1.0 FTE Sauk County Sheriff’s Department Investigator to handle sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking investigations, provide assistance in same to other law enforcement agencies within Sauk County, and to provide training to law enforcement.

Salary, benefits and training for a 0.5 FTE Hope House Sexual Assault Victim Advocate to provide support services for sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking victims.

WHEREAS, the County has been selected to receive one award of up to $700,000 to fund the grant as applied for.

WHEREAS, the goals of the grant include the following:

Achieve 100% law enforcement-to-advocacy referral rate for all reported instances of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Training prosecutors, detectives, law enforcement and advocates on best, victim-centered, offender-focused practices.

Improving timeliness and effectiveness of the process from reporting to prosecution.

Evaluating and strengthening Sauk County existing policies and protocols.

Centralize and coordinate investigations and prosecutions

Continue development and enhancement of the SART.

Implement victim satisfaction surveys

Build strong connections with underserved populations including the Ho Chunk Tribe and the immigrant population coming for employment in the Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton resorts.

WHEREAS, Sauk County will benefit from the increased prosecution resources,

the increased law enforcement resources being focused on sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking offenses which greatly decrease public safety and have far reaching emotional and mental health consequences for victims, and increased victim advocacy which will help victims heal from the trauma of assault.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, met in regular session, that the US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women -  Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking grant for approximately $700,000 be accepted.