February 25, 2025
Police Department
DATE: February 25, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Bisa French, Chief of Police
Subject:
Contract Amendment No. 1 with Community Violence
Solutions
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The estimated expenditure of $85,000 is included in the Richmond Police Department’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025
approved budget and the remaining $119,000 will be
budgeted for in future years appropriately (Account String 01191021-400201).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 20, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Community Violence Solutions (CVS) is an organization
that works closely with victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults and provides access to the Child
Interview Center (CIC). The CIC provides the Richmond
Police Department’s Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault Units and victims of these crimes a safe place to provide emergency shelter and counseling services for
victims. CVS is the only California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) funded crisis center in
Contra Costa County.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the first contract amendment with Community
Violence Solutions increasing the payment limit by
$204,000, for a total contract payment limit of $384,000, and extending the term from January 1, 2023, through
December 31, 2027, to provide to the Richmond Police
Department coordinated access and services at the Child Interview Center for victims of domestic violence and
AGENDA
REPORT
February 25, 2025
sexual assault – Police Department (Chief Bisa French
510-621-1802).
DISCUSSION:
Community Violence Solutions (CVS) is a rape crisis center serving Contra Costa County law enforcement agencies. CVS is the only California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) funded crisis center in Contra Costa County. They provide aid to victims of sexual assault related crimes which include human trafficking, regardless of age, to assist with the lifelong impact of the crime. Other services that CVS provides include counseling/therapy, shelter, relocation assistance and job search assistance. This service also directly assists in the overall criminal prosecution of cases.
CVS advocates will work closely with Richmond Police Department (RPD) detectives in the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Units to provide services in a timely fashion which include responding to calls to assist victims at all hours of the day and night if needed. CVS will also provide personnel for human trafficking operations in the City of Richmond. Their assistance has proven useful in gaining the cooperation of victims to end their abuse and prosecute the subjects who typically perpetrate these types of crimes against multiple victims, including juveniles.
In addition, CVS will provide the use of the Child Interview Center (CIC) which was previously billed to RPD by Contra Costa County. CVS now charges for this service directly which eliminates the need for a separate contract, but requires that the primary contract with CVS be amended to include the use and billing of the CIC. Also, RPD is assessed a standard fee like other partnering agencies for the utilization of the Child Interview Center (CIC). However, the RPD's usage of these services significantly exceeds that of other agencies, resulting in a cost that is more than equitable for the use of the center.
The CIC will also provide necessary space for forensic interviews of juvenile and developmentally disabled victims/witnesses. Interviews will be conducted in a private and secure facility with the cooperation of the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and Child & Family Services (CFS) for Contra Costa County. It not only directly leads to the successful prosecution of heinous crimes but also assists in making sure that the most vulnerable of victims are placed in a safe environment.
Finally, this contract will help cover expenses related to travel costs accessing shelters, court hearings, meals provided to victims, which has increased their effectiveness in helping the victims the City of Richmond serves.
February 25, 2025
The original contract budgeted $60,000 each year, for a contract total of $180,000. This first amendment is to add $204,000, which is to account for two additional annual payments, plus the addition of the CIC billing, which is a shared expense amongst the sharing jurisdictions and was previously paid for by RPD directly to the Contra Costa County. Estimated annual costs for the CIC portion are proposed at $25,000 due in 2025, $28,000 due in 2026, and $31,000 due in 2027. This contract is being requested using a three-year sole source authorization.
CVS Contract Cost History
Contract Year Start
date Amount
Est. CIC
portion
1/1/2023 $60,000.00 n/a* *Contra Costa County
was responsible for
billing RPD prior to
CVS taking over
management of the
Center 1/1/2024 $60,000.00 n/a*
1/1/2025 $60,000.00 $25,000.00
1/1/2026 $60,000.00 $28,000.00
1/1/2027 $60,000.00 $31,000.00
Contract Total $384,000.00
less (prev. contract amount) $180,000.00
Total Amendment
Requested $204,000.00
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – First Amendment
Attachment 2 – Original Contract