Commissioners Court Meeting

Issue viewing agenda items? Click here to switch to the old format.

Return to the Search Page Return to the Agenda

Meeting Date:	10/11/2016
VCLG Grant Award Acceptance
Submitted for:	Martin Cuellar	Submitted By:	Anita Guerra
Department:	Sheriff

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to authorize the acceptance of a Victim Coordinator and Liaison Grant (VCLG) from the Office of the Texas Attorney General (OAG) in the amount of $42,000 for the continued salary and fringe benefits of a crime victim advocate; and authorizing the Webb County Judge to execute all relevant documents; and any other matters incident thereto. [Grant Fund 322] This grant does not require a match, but this grant-funded position requires an additional $510 to cover total personnel costs, which will be met through forfeiture funds. [Account #168-9501-9301 (Forfeiture Funds)] Thus, there will be no impact to the general fund.

Issue: Victims of violent crime suffer significant financial duress, emotional trauma, and physical injuries. While the State of Texas has set up a system to compensate these victims for their expenses and financial losses due to death, disabling injuries, and emotional trauma utilizing collected court costs from convicted offenders, the victims often must navigate the complex state compensation system and extensively document their benefit eligibility while still under emotional and physical distress.

Solution: The Webb County Sheriff’s Office grant funded Crime Victim Advocate offers critical support, facilitates/expedites filling out detailed paperwork, provides needed guidance through the bureaucratic process, and delivers outreach/education to the local community.

Result: Victims of violent crime in Webb County, including victims from special populations, such as children, youth, rural, colonia, monolingual, and elderly populations, will continue to be provided with direct victim services, training, and outreach/education.

Background:

The purpose of the Victim Coordinator and Liaison Grant (VCLG) program is to fund the mandated positions described in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 56.04, specifically Victim Assistance Coordinators (VAC) in prosecutor offices and Crime Victim Liaisons (CVL) in law enforcement agencies. Since Fall 2005, this grant-funded position/slot has been funded by the Office of the Texas Attorney General (OAG) for the Webb County Sheriff’s Office.

Previous Court Action:

On August 22, 2016, the Webb County Commissioners’ Court voted to authorize the continued payment of salary and fringe benefits of the Crime Victim Advocate.

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	322
Funding Source:	Grant
Balance:	$42,000
Financial Impact:
Fiscal Impact: $28,995 salary/payroll $13,005 fringe benefits $42,000 TOTAL grant funds to pay salary & fringe benefits for a Crime Victim Advocate [Grant Fund 322] No impact to the general fund.

Budget Account Number:	168-9501-9301
Funding Source:	Forfeiture Funds-Tra
Balance:	$10,000
Financial Impact:
$120 payroll $390 worker’s compensation $510 TOTAL to cover estimated salary & fringe benefit deficit Transfer Out [Account #168-9501-9301 (Forfeiture Funds)] No impact to the general fund.

Attachments
Grant Award