DATE: February 4, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
SUBJECT: Retroactive 2019 DNA Backlog Reduction Grant Application; Acceptance and Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Sheriff's previous submittal of a grant application to the National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice, for the 2019 Forensic DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant;
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute and accept a retroactive grant award agreement from the National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice, for the 2019 Forensic Casework DNA Backlog Reduction Grant for the period of January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021 ($250,000);
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2019-20 appropriations and estimated revenues for Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator's Org 3111 in the amount of $59,100 (4/5 vote); and
4. Authorize the Sheriff, or her authorized representative, to sign claims for reimbursement, activity reports, notices, and other related documents consistent with the above grant award.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with these actions. Divisions of the Department of Justice (DOJ) have awarded this grant to assist local forensic laboratories that conduct DNA analysis with reducing casework backlog. Currently, it can take an average of 74 days for DNA cases to be processed. This grant continuation will fund the purchase and replacement of laboratory equipment, laboratory staff forensic training, DNA case analysis, and a dedicated Criminalist position to assist the Sheriff's Forensic Laboratory in reducing this turnaround time. The competitive application was submitted on May 7, 2019 to the National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice, to meet the application deadline contingent on your Board's approval. The Sheriff's Office was notified on September 12, 2019, that the application was preliminarily accep...
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