Title
Authorizing the City Attorney’s Office to apply for the 2027 Prosecutor-Based Crime Victim Services 12-Month Grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, for prosecutor-based crime victim services in Ramsey County.
Body
WHEREAS, the City Attorney’s Office would like to apply to the 2027 Prosecutor-Based Crime Victim Services 12-Month Grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), which provides funding to support the City's prosecutor-based crime victim services in Ramsey County; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Justice Programs goals include ensuring crime victims’ rights are upheld, increasing victims’ safety, and ensuring that victims’ services are relevant to the population that exists within the community; and
WHEREAS, the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division wishes to pursue the available funding opportunity and the grant application to retain two current positions, a Victim Witness Coordinator (1.0 FTE) and a Victim Outreach Assistant position (1.0 FTE), and add an additional Victim Witness Coordinator position (1.0 FTE); and
WHEREAS, the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division relies heavily on the work of our Victim Witness Coordinator and Victim Witness Assistant to provide services to crime victims, uphold statutory mandates in Minn. Stat. 611A (Crime Victims’ Rights), and to ensure that victims from underserved communities can access these services; and
WHEREAS, the requested grant amount would be capped at $352,000 with a grant term of January 1st, 2027 - December 31st, 2027 and the funding source for this grant is federal pass-through; and
WHEREAS, the grant does not require matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the Grants Division of the Office of Financial Services has reviewed and approved the Intent to Apply request; and
WHEREAS, the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the grant agreement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council authorize the City Attorney’s Office to apply for the 2027 Prosecutor-Based Crime Victim Services 12-Month Grant.