County seeks signature on reduced crime-victims grant to keep victim-witness services staffed

Clallam County prosecutors’ staff asked commissioners on July 21 to sign a state crime-victims grant that helps fund victim-witness coordinator positions that provide mandated services to victims and witnesses in criminal cases.

Staff said the grant total for the coming year was slightly lower than anticipated — roughly $52,000 to $62,000 was discussed in session — but that the program remains an essential source of funding to help provide victim notifications, connections to community advocates, assistance with victim-impact statements, crime-victim compensation navigation and restitution processes.

The speaker said when the program is fully staffed the office typically operates with one full-time and one part-time victim-witness coordinator; temporary staffing shortages this year reduced expenditures. County staff said state funding, victim-penalty assessments and a general-fund transfer have historically combined to pay for the positions; the county’s general-fund transfer averaged about $60,000 in recent years and staff said they have budgeted to cover potential shortfalls in three-year projections.

Commissioners discussed state funding uncertainties and noted the grant is processed electronically; the county will sign the DocuSign after the board’s regular meeting next week, staff said.