Subject:
Title
Ratification of the County Administrator’s approval of a grant award acceptance from the Office of Justice Programs for the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant that funds the Forensic Laboratory.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Following approval and execution by the County Administrator, ratify, confirm, and enter into the minutes the grant award acceptance documents and special conditions for the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant (DNA Grant) that will continue funding staff, equipment, and supplies for the Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory (PCFL).
Approval by the County Administrator was required to meet the Office of Justice Programs’ grant acceptance deadline of October 21, 2016.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
Summary:
The DNA Grant award total is $340,027 and will continue funding the costs of one (1) full time DNA Analyst and one (1) part time DNA Analyst, equipment purchases and supplies to maintain processing of PCFL’s lab submissions. The DNA Grant period is two (2) years, from 01/01/2017 - 12/31/2018. The award is a continuation of funding for these positions filled under the fiscal year (FY) 2012 - FY 2015 DNA Backlog Grants.
Since 2011 the number of cases submitted to PCFL has consistently increased with a significant spike from 2014 to 2015.
Year Cases Submitted to PCFL
2011 871
2012 1109
2013 1129
2014 1211
2015 1586
The DNA Grant’s goal is to fund the completion of 300 additional DNA cases, 200 additional technical reviews, and 100 screening/processing for cases that require subsequent DNA analysis.
Background Information:
This DNA Grant provides continuation funding for staff support to aid with the current workload of the forensic lab. In recent years, with the growing demand for DNA test on property crimes and with increases in sex assault cases, workload at the forensic lab has increased. The Medical Examiner initially sought and received a grant under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program in FY2012. This FY2017 award continues to fund the 1.5 DNA analyst positions and provides funding for DNA processing overtime, supplies, and equipment.
The full time Analyst is responsible for DNA analysis for forensic casework to include extraction, amplification, interpretation, and testimony of profiles as well as technical review of other analysts’ casework. The part time Analyst is responsible for DNA analysis for forensic casework as well as extensive technical review duties.
The DNA Grant will purchase equipment and supplies to maintain and increase efficiency and productivity in the laboratory. The laboratory will replace the genetic analyzer (that will be at end of service in 2017) and purchase kits and supplies for validation of the genetic analyzer and associated techniques.
The County’s Agreement with the Medical Examiner for professional services provides $176,000.00 in additional funding in FY2017 to supplement continued increases due to the new sexual assault kit processing standards put in place July 1, 2016, by the Florida Legislature. Those standards are governed by Section 943.326, Florida Statues and require sexual assault kits to be submitted for testing within thirty (30) days and processed within one hundred and twenty (120) days.
Fiscal Impact:
The DNA Grant will provide $340,027 in funds over a 24 month period from January 1, 2017, thru December 31, 2018. There are no match funds associated with this grant.
Staff Member Responsible:
Lourdes Benedict, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Medical Examiner for the Sixth Judicial Circuit
Attachments:
DNA Grant Acceptance Documents
DNA Application Memo