The Riviera Beach Police Department has submitted an application for funding to the Office of the Attorney General, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant to continue the Victim Advocate Program for 2017/2018. The purpose of this grant is to continue the Department's crisis response services focusing on areas such as homicide, domestic violence, child death incidents, and elderly victimization.
The long range goal is intended to reduce the number of victims of violent crimes and to develop a network of referral services to assist such victims. The short term goal is to provide on-site crisis response, crisis intervention, and supportive assistance along with responding officers and investigators.
For the past eleven years, the City of Riviera Beach has applied for, and been awarded funds from, the Office of the Florida Attorney General VOCA Grant for the Victims Advocate Program. During the past six years, the Victim Advocate has provided services to over 6,000 citizens.
The Grant award of $109,708.00 requires a 20% match from the Police Department. The match of $27,427.37 will be provided through in-kind services from the City. The Police Department cash match includes $102,987.00 for personnel including a Full-Time Victim Advocate and a Part-Time Assistant, $2,721.00 for Operating Expenses, and $4,000.00 for training for each of the two approved positions in the Personnel Budget Category.
The twenty percent (20%) match of $27,427.37 will be provided through in-kind services from the City for a total of $137,135.37, and allow us to maintain current service levels. This grant will augment current services now provided by our Victim Advocate Program.