SUBJECT
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DISTRICT ATTORNEY - RATIFICATION OF APPLICATION AND REQUEST TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING FROM THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER (FJ) PROGRAM GRANT - (DISTRICTS: ALL)
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OVERVIEW
As the largest provider of local victim services in San Diego County, the Office of the San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) assists over 16,000 crime victims annually. Since July 2022, the District Attorney has opened two Family Justice Centers to further expand the services provided. The Family Justice Centers are regionalized hubs that provide acute crisis-care, case management, counseling and linkages to justice systems and supportive services for victims of crime. On January 28, 2020 (13), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the lease agreement for a facility located in the North County region in the City of San Marcos. On June 27, 2023 (12), the Board also approved a lease to establish a new Family Justice Center to serve crime victims in the South County region, located in National City. Both One Safe Place North (OSP-N) and One Safe Place South (OSP-S) provide critical services to victims of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, transnational abandonment, and human trafficking.
The 2025-2026 State Budget Act appropriated funds to provide grants to Family Justice Centers throughout the state. Today’s request is to ratify the application for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Family Justice Center (FJ) Program grant, to accept $625,000 in grant funding to support services at OSP-N and OSP-S, and authorize the District Attorney and her designees to apply for and accept grant funding to support services for victims of crime in the future. A waiver of Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - which requires prior approval of grant applications is requested as this funding request was not received by the Board of Supervisors at least fifteen days in advance of the date on which the grant application was submitted.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
1. Ratify the submission of the grant application for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Family Justice Center (FJ) Program grant in the amount of $625,000 for the period beginning April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028, to support services for victims of crime.
2. Authorize the District Attorney and her designees to accept grant funds in the estimated amount of $625,000 from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Family Justice Center (FJ) for the period of April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028.
3. Authorize the District Attorney and her designees to apply for and accept grant funds for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Family Justice Center (FJ) Program from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services in subsequent years provided there are no material changes to the grant terms or funding level.
4. Approve and authorize the District Attorney or her designees including the Chief District Attorney Administrative Officer, the District Attorney Legal Operations Administrator, and Finance Officer, in this year and subsequent years to review and execute all required or related grant documents, including agreements for the financial administration and distribution of funds where necessary to carry out the purposes of the program, and any annual extensions, grant subaward amendments, and/or revisions that do not materially impact either the program or funding levels of the Family Justice Center (FJ) Program grant.
5. Authorize the District Attorney and her designees through June 20, 2031 to submit grant applications for grant funding to support services for victims of crime.
6. Waive Board Policy B-29 Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery, which requires docketing at least 15 days in advance of the date on which the grant request must be received by the granting agency.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The District Attorney focuses on policies and practices that ensure equal access to victim services. District Attorney victim advocates are located regionally to ensure all victims are offered support and needed services. Approximately 23% of the County’s residents are immigrants who speak many different languages. To address language needs in serving victims, the District Attorney hires a diverse workforce with many bilingual victim advocates, utilizes contracted translation services, and launches informative digital and printed media campaigns in other languages. Victim advocates assist victims from all walks of life and experiences, regardless of age, background, and/or immigration status. The District Attorney’s Office responds with culturally competent, trauma informed care to individuals harmed by crime. Since victims and survivors of trauma frequently intersect with the criminal justice system, their perspective is critical to achieving racial and social equity and fair and equitable justice. The proposed action to apply for and accept grant funding from California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services supports the District Attorney’s efforts to make victim services more accessible and equitable throughout San Diego County and supports the District Attorney’s endeavor of fair and equal justice for all.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The provision of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) funding for the Family Justice Center (FJ) Program contributes to the County of San Diego’s Sustainability initiative by supporting resiliency of victims and witnesses across the region. Through FJ Program grant funding, the District Attorney’s Office is prepared to respond to urgent needs of victims and witnesses of crime. The Family Justice Centers provide emergency assistance in areas such as food, basic necessities, relocation, etc. Victim advocates provide other services which include crisis intervention, referral assistance to local community providers, and referrals for mental health counseling to respond to the emotional, psychological, or physical needs of victims/witnesses. The District Attorney’s Office seeks to encourage individuals and families to stabilize their lives after victimization and strives to restore a measure of safety and security for the victim/witness.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are partially included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operational Plan for the District Attorney’s Office. If approved, this request will result in current year’s estimated costs and revenue of $108,000 based on a grant award from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Costs and revenue, estimated at $517,000, for the remainder of the grant period of July 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028, will be included in future operational plans for the District Attorney’s Office. The funding source will be a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Family Justice Center Program. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
The Office of the San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) is the largest provider of local victim services assisting over 16,000 crime victims annually. On December 11, 2018 (20), the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized in principle to lease and/or purchase site(s) for Family Safety and Care Centers, now called One Safe Place North (OSP-N). On January 28, 2020 (13), the Board approved the lease agreement for a facility located in the North County region in the City of San Marcos. Since opening in July 2022, OSP-N has become a regionalized one-stop victim services center providing acute crisis-care, case management, counseling and linkages to justice systems and supportive services. OSP-N fosters collaboration with community-based organizations to improve outcomes for victims of crime and public safety in North County.
In 2023, SDCDA continued to expand the regionalized victim service center model through an approved lease to establish a new Family Justice Center to serve crime victims in the South County region. The Board approved this request on June 27, 2023 (12). One Safe Place South (OSP-S) is strategically built within a Live Well Center in the South Bay area. The National City location is highly accessible for residents and adjacent to major public transportation options, such as trolley and bus lines. OSP-S opened in October 2025 and includes multi-disciplinary partnerships with community providers and delivers coordinated and effective services to victims and families, including but not limited to victims of child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking and elder abuse. Both OSP-N and OSP-S provide services that are culturally appropriate, physically accessible, and driven by the needs of those who are impacted by crime and violence. Today’s request will authorize the District Attorney to accept funding to support a restraining order clinic that will facilitate safety planning for victims.
If approved, today’s request will authorize the ratification of the application for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Family Justice Center (FJ) Program grant, to accept $625,000 in grant funding to support services at OSP-N and OSP-S, and authorize the District Attorney and her designees to apply for and accept grant funding to support services for victims of crime in the future.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Community and Justice Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by using and pursuing funds to support vital public safety services to the County and its residents.
Respectfully submitted,
SUMMER STEPHAN
District Attorney
ATTACHMENT(S)
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