Accepting a US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women - Sexual Assault Justice Initiative Grant and Amending the 2016 District Attorney Budget to Appropriate the Related Funds

Committee Status: 
Approved
Budget Status: 
External Source
Decision Impact: 
Significant
FTE Impact: 
No
Funding Source: 
Grant

Purpose

Acceptance of a US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women - Sexual Assault Justice Initiative Grant and Amendment of the 2016 District Attorney Budget to Appropriate the Related Funds

Resolution Files: 

Resolution Body

Resolution No. ____-16

 

Accepting a US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women – Sexual Assault Justice Initiative Grant and Amending the 2016 District Attorney Budget to Appropriate the Related Funds

 

WHEREAS, Sauk County, through the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Lake Delton Police Department and Hope House applied for a US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women - Sexual Assault Justice Initiative (USDOJ, OVAW-SAJI) grant; and,

 

WHEREAS, the grant was sought to fund the following for calendar years 2016 and 2017:

  1. Salary, benefits, training and equipment for a 0.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) Sauk County Assistant District Attorney to handle sexual assault cases and to provide training to law enforcement.

  2. Salary, benefits and training for a 1.0 FTE Lake Delton Police Investigator to handle Lake Delton area sexual assault investigations, provide assistance in sexual assault investigations to other law enforcement agencies within Sauk County, and to provide training to law enforcement.

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

 

WHEREAS, the County has been selected to receive one of seven national awards of up to $400,000 to fund the grant as applied for.

 

WHEREAS, the goals of the grant include the following:

  1. Training prosecutors, detectives, law enforcement and advocates on best, victim centered practices.

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

  3. Evaluating and strengthening Sauk County existing policies and protocols.

  4. Building stronger connections with underserved populations including the Ho Chunk Tribe and the immigrant population arriving for employment opportunities in Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton.

  5. Improving victim advocacy.

 

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

the increased law enforcement resources being focused on sexual assault 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 - Sexual Assault Justice Initiative grant for approximately $400,000 be accepted; and,

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the 2016 District Attorney budget be amended to authorize expenditure of funds limited to the total amount of grant dollars received to cover contracted staff salary and benefits, training and equipment costs.

 

 

For consideration by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors on January 19, 2016.

 

Law Enforcement &

Judiciary Committee

_____________________________________

William Wenzel - Chair

_____________________________________

David Moore

_____________________________________

Michelle Dent 

_____________________________________

Connie lehman

_____________________________________

John Deitrich

 

Finance Committee

_____________________________________

Tommy Lee Bychinski - Chair

_____________________________________

Joan Fordham

_____________________________________

Wally Czuprynko

_____________________________________

Martin F. Krueger

_____________________________________

Andrea Lombard

 

 

 

Fiscal Note:  Expenditures shall be completely funded by this grant with minimal County contribution absorbed in the existing budget for office supplies and paper.  Expenditures for the two year period are estimated to be:

Village of Lake Delton Detective (100% of time spent on grant)

$164,647

State of Wisconsin Prosecutor (80% of time spent on grant)

$146,976

Hope House Advocate (50% of time spent on grant)

$51,240

Travel to meetings and trainings

$25,008

Conferences

$3,135

Equipment – Laptop for prosecutor

$1,252

 

 

Total

$392,258

 

Information Systems Note:  The prosecutor’s laptop, docking station and other peripherals will remain the property of the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office and will be supported by DAIT.  Lake Delton and Hope House will equip their staff.

Requested Board Review Date: 
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Committee Review 1: 
Approved
Committee Review 1 Date: 
Committee Review 2: 
Approved
Committee Review 2 Date: