Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the City of Columbus to accept and appropriate two federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) sub awards from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office of Justice Policy and Programs to the City Attorney’s Office. Grant awards support specialized prosecution and victim advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence and stalking. Award dollars fund 1) a portion of salary expenses for two specially trained domestic violence prosecutors, 2) total compensation for one specially trained stalking victim advocate, 3) registration fees for professional development, and 4) contract fees for interpretation and translation services.
The Columbus City Attorney’s Domestic Violence & Stalking Prosecution Unit provides best-practice prosecution services for victims of misdemeanor domestic violence and stalking crimes. The unit employs six highly-trained and experienced domestic violence prosecutors, twenty victim advocates, one stalking investigator, one anti-stalking victim advocate and hosts professional liaisons from Capital University Law School’s Civil Protection Unit. Services provided by the unit are modeled after the National District Attorneys Association’s National Domestic Violence Prosecution Best Practice Guide and are designed to improve victim engagement; decrease recantation; and increase community and law enforcement collaboration. This ordinance authorizes the acceptance and appropriation of grant funds.
Fiscal Impact: VAWA sub awards require a 25% city cash match. The cash match ($63,241.51) is tracked by the CAO fiscal team with records of expenses maintained in grant files.
Award # Award Match
24-WF-VA2-8758 $106,000.00 $35,333.33
24-WF-VA2-4600 $83,724.55 $27,908.18
2024 VAWA total $189,724.55 $63,241.51
Emergency Action:
Executed grant contracts from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners were delayed, therefore emergency action is requested to ensure timely reimbursement for...
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