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Lewistown commission authorizes application for federal victim‑witness advocate funding
Summary
Commissioners authorized submitting a U.S. Department of Justice grant application to fund a part‑time victim‑witness advocate for city cases; the grant requires a 20% match that may be met in‑kind (office space) and would be administered by the state bureau that manages victim‑services grants.
The City of Lewistown City Commission voted to authorize the city manager to submit an application for federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice to fund a victim‑witness advocate position.
City Attorney (unnamed in the transcript) described the role: "A victim‑witness advocate's role is to help a person through the process. They are there right after the event to talk about court dates, what to expect, and help connect victims to counseling and compensation services." Staff said the county previously provided the service through shared administrative support but the county no longer shares that office; the proposed position would serve city cases and coordinate with courts and the police department.
Phelps and the city attorney said initial data from the Lewistown Police Department support funding a part‑time position; the grant is a two‑year award and the city would be a new applicant, requiring a 20% local match. The match can be cash or in‑kind contributions such as office space; staff said the in‑kind calculation is commonly accepted by the grant administrator.
Commissioners clarified the position would be city‑staffed and asked about juvenile probation (handled by county) and about reimbursement reporting requirements; staff said the position would report activity through the state's case‑tracking system as required. The commission approved the motion to submit the grant application and authorized the city manager to sign related documents.
