R-2009-04 Crime Victim’s Liaison Grant

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REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM Agenda Date Requested: Budl!:et Requested By: Ken Adcox Source of Funds: Department: Polite Account Number: Report: Resolution: X Ordinance: Amount Budgeted: Exhibits: Resolution for Crime Victim's Liaison Grant Amount Requested: Exhibits: Budgeted Item: YES NO Exhibits SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION Per the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 56.04, (c), "Each local law enforcement agency shall designate one person to serve as the agency's crime victim liaison." The duty of the crime victim liaison is to ensure that a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim of a bodily injury crime, is afforded the rights granted victims, guardians, or close relatives of deceased according to the law; including notification of victim's rights, providing victims with crime victim's compensation assistance, referring them to community resources and providing moral support during any time the victim is required to make a court appearance. The City of La POlte received an initial grant award for its Victims Assistance Liaison position from the Office of the Attorney General in February, 2002. Since that time, the position has in part been funded through this grant. This position has proven very valuable to the City of La Porte. For calendar year 2008, the La Porte Police Depmiment's Crime Victim's Liaison served a total of six hundred and fifteen (615) victims who have been awarded approximately thirty thousand eight hundred thirty three dollars ($30,833.00) in Crime Victim's Compensation. Since the programs inception, over two hundred and eighty-nine thousand ($289,000.00) in compensation has been awarded to La Porte crime victims and their families with the assistance ofthe Crime Victim's Liaison. We are seeking approval through Resolution for the City Manager to submit for a two year continuation grant for the Crime Victim's Liaison position, in the amount of thirty-nine thousand dollars ($39,000.00) a year. This is the maximum amount allowed by the Office of the Attorney General. The City will have to absorb approximately twenty-one thousand dollars ($2] ,000.00) each year in its personnel operating budget to covel' salary and benefits relating to this position.