Title
Vote on a request to approve an application for the Investigation and Monitoring for Enhanced Safety Grant Award which is funded through the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
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 JAG 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 hours 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 July 1st, 2015 and conclude on September 30th, 2016. Funds to be budgeted to the Investigation and Monitoring for Enhanced Safety Initiative by JAG are as follows:
|
Personnel |
$117,347.70 |
|
Contractual |
$0.00 |
|
Travel |
$600.00 |
|
Operating |
$0.00 |
|
Equipment |
$6,225.00 |
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 15-month grant period has expired.
There is a “0% match” requirement on the grant. The grant will completely support the investigator position, but contribute only a percentage for the cost of its field supervisor. Both positions are financially supported by the funds obtained through the Governors Crime Commission. The field supervisor’s salary was figured into the personnel cost since a percentage of the supervisor’s 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.
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.
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.
Recommendation: Approve permission to apply for grant award.