Agenda

Return

C.45

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Robert J. Kochly, District Attorney
Date:	April 21, 2009

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

GRANT REQUEST FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN VERTICAL PROSECUTION PROGRAM

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/21/2009

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Jennifer Marttinen 925-957-2234

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 21, 2009
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the District Attorney, or designee, to apply for and accept a grant in an amount not to exceed $266,667 from the California Emergency Management Agency, Law Enforcement and Victim Services Division to maintain and expand the vertical prosecution program for felony domestic violence and sexual assault cases for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Violence Against Women Vertical Prosectution Program is supported by federal funds and requires a twenty-five percent match, based on the total project cost. The $266,667 request includes $200,000 of federal grant funds and $66,667 of local match. As collaborating agencies on the project, the match will be proportionally split between the Office of the District Attorney and STAND! Against Domestic Violence.

BACKGROUND:

The Violence Against Women Vertical Prosection Program is designed to promote a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to improving the criminal justice system's response to violent crimes against women. The program encourages the development and strengthening of effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to address violent crimes against women such as sexual assault and domestic violence.

Previous to the establishment of the District Attorney's Domestic Violence Unit, the conviction rate (felony and misdemeanor) averaged 68% (1990-1994); after the establishment of the Unit, the conviction rate increased to an average of 86%(1995-1998); after the implementation of vertical prosecution for all felony domestic violence cases, the conviction rate increased to a stunning 93% in 2008. This successful program is currently threatened with termination due to budget pressures at the County level.

During the grant year the project will vertically prosecute a minimum of 200 cases of felony domestic violence and seual assault. Once a case is accepted into the Vertical Prosecution Program, the assigned attorney will appear at all stages of the proceedings, including arraignment, bail hearings, preliminary hearings, disposition conferences, Law & Motion matters, trial, and sentencing. A Victim Advocate will work directly with the victim from the initial court appearance through the case's conclusion. Comprehensive services include: safety p0lanning, referrals to community agencies, language interpreter services, education on the legal system and the prosecution process, information on all stages of the prosecution, and appearance with and support of the victime at court hearings.

Project staff will be active in the County's award-winning Zero Tolerance collaborative, which includes the Court, the Sheriff, the Public Defender's Office, Social Services, Probation, Health Services, and several community service providers.