To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Apply for and Accept Department of Justice Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to apply for and accept a grant, including any amendments or extensions thereof, pursuant to the grant guidelines, in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 from the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women to implement the Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program (ICJR) for the period of October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If awarded, County will receive funds not to exceed $1,500,000 from the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. This is 100% Federal funding. No County match is required.
BACKGROUND:
Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program funding are designed to assist victims of violence with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while improving communities’ capacity to hold offenders accountable for their crimes. The program recognizes that sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are crimes that require the criminal justice system to hold offenders accountable for their actions through investigation and arrest, and to seek safety and autonomy for victims.
The program is designed to encourage partnerships between local governments, law enforcement agencies, offices of prosecutor, victim service providers, and courts to strengthen the criminal justice response to domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by improving offender accountability, victim safety, homicide reduction, protection-order enforcement, and coordinated law enforcement and prosecutorial action.
This effort aligns with and continues the work of the Employment and Human Services Department and the Alliance to End Abuse to prevent homicides related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in Contra Costa County.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
County would not receive federal funding to implement programs designed to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Contra Costa County.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This recommendation supports all of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes of the Children’s Report Card: (1) "Children Ready for and Succeeding in School"; (2) "Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood"; (3) "Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient"; (4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and (5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families”.