Three decades ago, Santa Clara County gave a nonprofit agency the job of helping those harmed by crime. The experiment proved successful, and the supervisors should stick with it. On Thursday, they should renew the contract with the agency, FACES, and reject District Attorney Dolores Carr’s proposal to assume control of the $2.2 million state-funded program.

In all but four California counties, the prosecutor’s office already runs the program for crime victims. Carr promises to do it more efficiently, using paralegals who can be cross-trained in victim assistance. But FACES’ prominent supporters, including retired judges LaDoris Cordell and Len Edwards, make a compelling case that FACES should remain in control.

With a staff of 22, FACES helps people traumatized by crime and guides them through complex applications for compensation. It represents victims regardless of whether they plan to testify and whether the crimes against them will be prosecuted. When a district attorney runs the program, some victims may feel pressure to serve as witnesses or may simply not seek help — particularly ethnic minorities and immigrants distrustful of authorities.

Edwards, a FACES board member, said Carr’s proposal would be “an unfortunate step backward.” He said prosecutors in other counties have resisted judges’ calls to follow FACES’ lead and expand the program to family courts, where victims of domestic violence need an advocate.

The district attorney oversees the FACES grant, so Carr had good reason to scrutinize the program. Last summer, after the executive director and two senior managers left the agency in an office shake-up, Carr requested an audit. It found no financial malfeasance, but it did cite poor management, including subpar data and few measurements of performance.

The audit also noted that the grant has not been competitively bid for years. That is not illegal, but the supervisors need to justify it — which will be difficult without better measures of effectiveness.

Pat Mitchell took over as executive director last summer and has begun to improve management controls. The auditor commended her for it and praised the better communication between her and Carr. FACES also has significantly increased the number of victims served.

Carr and the supervisors should hold FACES accountable for performance, but the nonprofit model overall has worked well. Rather than see it end here, other counties should adopt it.