DATE: January 12, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
SUBJECT: Retroactive 2020 DNA Backlog Reduction Grant Application; Acceptance and Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Sheriff's previous submittal of an online grant application on behalf of the County of Fresno to the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the 2020 Forensic DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant;
2. Approve, ratify and authorize the Sheriff, or her designee, to execute, accept, and submit electronically, a retroactive Grant Award Agreement Number 2020-DN-BX-0137 on behalf of the County of Fresno to the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance for the 2020 Forensic Casework DNA Backlog Reduction Grant, effective October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2022 in the amount of $376,101; and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2020-21 appropriations and estimated revenues for Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator's Org 3111 in the amount of $233,842 (4/5 vote); and
4. Authorize the Sheriff, or her designee, to sign and submit claims for reimbursement, activity reports, notices, extend the grant ending date to expend allocated funding, and other related documents consistent with the 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 70 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 July 31, 2020 to the Departm...
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