Subject:
Title
Grant award with the U.S. Department of Justice for the 2024 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program on behalf of the Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval by the County Administrator of the grant award for the 2024 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Grant on behalf of the Pinellas County Forensic Lab (Forensic Lab).
• Grant provides recurring funding for the Forensic Lab.
• The grant supports Forensic Lab capacity to reduce and avoid backlogs through 1.5 DNA Analyst positions along with equipment and supplies.
• The grant award provides funding in the amount of $241,380.00 over two years.
• Funding for this grant has been included in the FY25 Adopted Budget in the General Fund with no match required and is not expected to cause the need for a budget amendment.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety & Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of the county services and support
Summary:
The Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory (PCFL) performs DNA analyses of evidentiary materials for the law enforcement agencies operating in Pinellas County, Florida and for the District Six Medical Examiner which serves Pinellas and Pasco counties. DNA analysis request are accepted for both violent and non-violent crimes. In order to increase analytical casework capacity and decrease average turnaround time, PCFL will use FY24 DNA Formula Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) funds to continue to fund 1.5 DNA analysts (currently funded on the FY 22 DNA CEBR) to perform casework activities including analysis, reporting, technical reviews, and testimony; and fund DNA test kits (extraction quantitation, amplification) for the funded analysts to perform analyses.
Background/Explanation:
Previous DNA grant awards have been received for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 through FY2024. This FY2024 grant application requests continued funding for positions, equipment, and supplies, including allowing for the laboratory to analyze a minimum of 300 additional DNA cases and perform 200 additional technical reviews that would not be completed based upon current non-grant resources.
Fiscal Impact:
The total grant award is $241,380.00 over two years and no match is required.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to accept this grant award is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Pinellas County Forensics Lab
Attachments:
Award Document from JustGrants