Title
Agreement with State of Arizona's Victims' Rights Program (Ordinance S-45734)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an agreement with the State of Arizona's Victims' Rights Program (VRP) to accept approximately $150,000 in Crime Victim Assistance Funds. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and for the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
In 1991 and 1995, the Arizona Legislature passed statutes to address victims' rights. The Legislature also designated a portion of the Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund assessment and juvenile parental assessment monies to be deposited into a Victims' Rights Fund. Arizona Revised Statute section 41-191.06(A) establishes a VRP in the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The VRP is tasked with assisting and monitoring state and local entities that are required to comply with Arizona's victims' rights laws. The Attorney General also is obligated to disburse Victims' Rights Fund monies to local and state agencies under Arizona Revised Statute section 41-191.08. The City of Phoenix Prosecutor's Office is one such entity. The City of Phoenix Prosecutor's Office Victim Services Unit has received funding through VRP for more than 14 years. The State of Arizona has not yet released award amounts for the year 2019-20. Therefore, the amount requested is based on the most recent award of $142,501 for the year 2018-19.
In the City of Phoenix Prosecutor's Office, VRP funding partially funds duties performed by the Victim Services Secretary, Legal Clerk III, and Legal Clerk IIs, related to providing statutorily mandated services to victims. These services ensure that the Prosecutor's Office timely notifies victims, responds to victims' phone inquiries, provides victims conferences with a prosecutor, and processes victim restitution requests.
Contract Term
The funding period is 12 months and runs through June 30, 2020.
Financial Impact
The Prosecutor's Office anticipates receiving an estimated $150,000 through VRP pass-through funding. If the amount awarded by VRP does not fully fund the positions, the Law Department will cover any deficit with a combination of salary savings, reduction of part-time hours and court-award funds, if received.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. and the Law Department.