COM 0521.009 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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computers. Among these supplemental requests, our priorities for additional funding are: an administrative assistant to assist in maintaining personnel records and to assist the fiscal section with recordkeeping and reporting for federal and state grants and two lega] clerk III to start in March 2005 to provide clerical support for the drug prosecution deputies in East and West Hawaii. We have continued to proactively seek federal and state funding that support the main focus areas of the Office - 1) core prosecution and victim services, 2) improvement to the criminal justice system and 3) community initiatives to promote crime prevention through education and collaboration. Our current state and federal funded programs include: Career Criminal (CCP), Victim/Witness Assistance(VW), Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Domestic Violence Prosecution (VAWA), Community Oriented Prosecution (COP), Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG) and Community Gun Violence Prosecution. Grant revenues currently account for 35 of the 96 positions in the Office and for 31 % of the total Office budget. Continued reduction in the State's Career Criminal and Victim-Witness funding and expected reduction of Federal funding for VOCA and JAIBG will greatly impact the Office and the services provided to victims and the community we serve. As necessary I will present those and other personnel requests as caseloads increase. A balanced and long-term effort to improve the public safety of our island must include additional staffing for this Office. The Office has worked actively with other public and private agencies and community groups to collaborate on development of various grant projects. We are currently working on obtaining Weed and Seed designation for Pahoa, and working with the YWCA on a Rural Domestic Violence grant. We continue to coordinate the Youth Builder initiative and work closely with the Bay Clinic's Pulama Project Youth Center. VOCA funding for direct services to victims of crime are provided to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Child and Family Services, Turning Point for Families and SAVE (Sex Assault Victim Empowerment). In addition, federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Title V funds are provided to the Lanakila Learning Center and to the Laupahoehoe Community Based Education Learning Center for juvenile delinquency prevention programs. As you review our budget, please consider as our policy statement the following: • That prosecution and public safety are core functions of the County of Hawaii; • That prosecution is law enforcement; • That an effective Prosecutor's Office is part of providing for the safety of our community; • That the necessary resources will be provided to those who go face to face with murderers, drug dealers, robbers, rapists and give support to victims of their crimes; and • That the laws establishing our community's norms and holding people accountable for their actions will be fairly and effectively enforced. 2