Title
Vote on a request to approve an application for the Investigation and Monitoring for Enhanced Safety Grant Award which is funded through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Abstract
Action Requested: Vote on a request to apply for the Investigation and Monitoring for Enhanced Safety Grant Award which will be awarded via funds from VAWA through the Governor’s Crime Commission (GCC). The grant award will finance the ability to provide for the court ordered monitoring of offenders of domestic violence laws through the use of GPS.
Introduction & Background: During the period of pretrial release, victims of domestic violence are subjected to being stalked, threatened to drop charges or not show up for court proceedings, and further victimization. This project will provide for the court ordered monitoring of offenders of domestic violence laws through the use of GPS. Once an offender has met pre-approved criteria, he/she will be fitted for a bracelet that will communicate through GPS and be monitored 24 hrs. a day for violations.
In addition to the monitoring of offenders through GPS, the investigator will be responsible for obtaining contact numbers for victims of domestic violence and their families in order to cross reference them to the recorded phone calls from the Chatham County Jail. If phone recordings indicate that a victim or potential witness has been or is being intimidated in any way pertaining to the case, this will initiate an immediate response from the investigator to charge the offender accordingly with NC General Statutes and to promptly notify the victim.
It will also be the responsibility of the investigator to be aware of all existing Domestic Violence Protective Orders in the county and to regularly attend civil court where hearings for these orders occur. The investigator will also work all assigned domestic violence cases.
Discussion & Analysis: This project is scheduled to begin October 1st, 2016 and conclude on September 30th, 2017. Funds to be budgeted to the Investigation and Monitoring for Enhanced Safety Initiative by VAWA are as follows:
|
Personnel |
$127,422.63 |
|
Contractual |
$0.00 |
|
Travel |
$600.00 |
|
Operating |
$0.00 |
|
Equipment |
$4,980.00 |
Each monitoring unit will be leased through a department of SecureAlert called Extreme Monitoring Concepts. Extreme Monitoring Concepts possesses a reputation of monitoring sex offenders and house arrest individuals which is on par with Pro Tech, our previous tracking provider. Extreme Monitoring Concepts was selected over Pro Tech due to three large factors: updated GPS tracking technology that features the ability to contact the offender through the tracking device, streamlined activation processes that feature superior, online management of an offender, and lower monthly costs per unit per month. The pricing guide for the Extreme Monitoring Concepts equipment is as follows:
|
Monitoring Cost Unit per Day |
$8.00 |
|
Insurance Cost Unit per Day |
$1.00 |
|
Total Cost per Unit per Day |
$9.00 |
|
Cost to Offender per Day |
$6.57 |
Offenders are required, upon approval, to pay in advance for the first 14 days of monitoring and are required to pay in 14-day increments thereafter. If an offender violates the provisions of the program at any time, they forfeit any fees that they have paid into the program. The fees collected through the grant from offenders will assist in creating sustainability for the monitoring program after the 1-year grant period has expired. There is a 25% match on the grant. To supply the match, 25% of the field supervisor’s salary was figured into the personnel cost since that percentage of the supervisor’s time will be spent overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Electronic Monitoring Officer position. The supervisor will also be responsible for the tracking and documentation that will be used in the submission of grant reports to the Governors Crime Commission. The remainder of the match will come from program fees paid by the defendant.
Additionally, a new position has been figured into the personnel cost of the grant. This new position will introduce a victim advocate to the Family Violence Investigations Unit of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. The advocate’s position will be fully funded from the grant and considered a part-time position. The advocate will be designed to work 60% of the traditional, work week. The advocate will be responsible for assisting victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault with their physical and emotional recovery. The advocate will support and aid survivors as they interact with the criminal justice system and other agencies, working closely with Family Violence Rape Crisis Services to assure a smooth transition and increased support of the survivor.
Budgetary Impact: This is a grant that will continue an existing position that is currently funded by a previous grant and another position which is partially funded; both of which are due to expire or become unsupported. This is a grant that will generate a third, new position which is due to expire at the end of the grant cycle. There is a 25% match on the grant. To supply the match, 25% of the field supervisor’s salary was figured into the personnel cost since that percentage of the supervisors time will be spent overseeing the day to day operation of the Electronic Monitoring Officer position. In addition, the supervisor will further be responsible for the tracking and documentation that will be used in the submission of grant reports to the Governors Crime Commission. The remainder of the match will come from program fees paid by the defendant.
If this grant is not funded, or after the grant expires, the county will be expected to continue the positions for the entirety of the investigator and the additional remainder of the supervisor, but not continue the position of the advocate.
Recommendation: Approve permission to apply for grant award.