Discussion and possible action to authorize the submission of the Victim Coordinator and Liaison Grant (VCLG) application to the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in the amount estimated at $99,000 for the salary and fringe benefits of a Crime Victim Liaison for a period of two (2) years; and authorizing the Webb County Judge to execute all relevant documents, including the resolution; and any other matters incident thereto. This grant does not require any type of match. Thus, this proposed grant will have no impact on the general fund. All required documents were sent to the Economic Development Department and were found in compliance with the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) policy. [Requested by Martin Cuellar, Webb County Sheriff; Grant Fund #2713]

Issue: Victims of violent crime experience significant financial hardship, emotional distress, and physical injuries. While Texas has established a system to compensate these victims for their financial losses, including expenses related to death, disabling injuries, and emotional trauma, the process can be difficult. The system is funded by court costs collected from convicted offenders, but victims often face the challenge of navigating a complex process and must provide extensive documentation to prove their eligibility for benefits, all while coping with the emotional and physical toll of their experiences.

Solution: Approve submission of the Victim Coordinator and Liaison Grant Application.

Result: The Crime Victims Liaison will provide essential support, assist in completing detailed paperwork, guide victims through the bureaucratic process, and offer outreach and educational services to the local community.

The purpose of the VCLG program is to fund the mandated positions described in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 56.04, specifically Victim Assistance Coordinators (VAC) in prosecutor's offices and Crime Victim Liaisons (CVL) in law enforcement agencies.