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. Grant awards support specialized prosecution and victim advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence. Award dollars fund 1) a portion of salary for two specially trained domestic violence prosecutors, and 2) total compensation for one specially trained anti-stalking victim advocate
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, sixteen victim advocates, one stalking investigator, one anti-stalking victim advocate and hosts professional liaisons from Franklin County Children Services and 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 appropriation of grant funds and the transfer and appropriation of required cash match.
Award # Award Amount Required Match Total Project
22-WF-VA2-8758 $86,975.20 $28,991.73 $115,966.93
22-WF-VA2-4600 $55,202.10 $18,400.70 $73,602.80
2023 VAWA total $142,177.30 $47,392.43 $189,569.73
Emergency Action:
These award contracts support direct services to victims of violent crimes from January 1st through December 31st, 2023, yet the fully executed sub award contracts from the County were not returned to the City until April, 2023. Emergency action is requested to allow the City Attorney to accept the award, appropriate award funds, and transfe...
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