Subject:
Title
Grant Agreement with Florida’s Office of the Attorney General for the Fiscal Year 2024 Crime Stoppers Trust Fund Award on behalf of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Grant Agreement with Florida’s Office of the Attorney General for the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund Award.
• The Crime Stoppers Trust Fund grant award program engages the community, law enforcement and the media in a unified attempt to reduce crime.
• The program is housed within the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and funding from the annual grant award supports operating expenses, crime tip rewards, and media campaigns.
• PCSO manages all programmatic and financial aspects of the grant award.
• Funding allocated for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 is $196,862.12. This includes the FY24-25 award of $159,957.06 as well as $36,905.06 in rollover funds from FY22-23. No match is required.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
Summary:
This Grant Agreement provides funding for Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County. Their mission is to provide law enforcement with an additional tool in the fight against crime by promoting community involvement through anonymity and rewards for citizens that provide information resulting in an arrest.
Background/Explanation:
In 1988, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Crime Stoppers Act and created a trust fund by imposing an additional $20.00 surcharge on fines for criminal offenses collected by county and circuit court clerks. The funding is distributed through the OAG Crime Stoppers Trust Fund.
This Grant award provides funding for a Crime Stoppers Coordinator, operating costs, tip rewards, and media campaigns. Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County operates through the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and has received funding from the trust fund annually since 2001. As of April 2024, the FY23-24 Crime Stoppers award has supported 1,071 tips and 15 tip rewards that resulted in 16 arrests, 16 cleared cases, and 3 captured fugitives.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding in an amount not to exceed $196,862.12 is to be provided to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office by the FY24-25 Crime Stoppers Trust Fund. The award amount includes the FY24-25 allocation of $159,957.06 as well as a rollover amount of $36,905.06 from FY22-23. No match is required.
Funds will be available for distribution under the Sheriff’s Grants and Agreements budget.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this agreement is granted under (Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Florida Office of the Attorney General
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County, Inc.
Attachments:
FY24-25 Award Amount
Submitted Grant Application
FY23-24 Crime Stoppers Executed Grant Agreement
FY24-25 Crime Stoppers Grant Agreement