Subject:
Title
Grant Agreement with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the Statewide Criminal Analysis Laboratory System Grant.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Grant Agreement with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for FY19 Statewide Criminal Analysis Laboratory System Grant.
• The Lab Grant is recurring supplemental funding of the Pinellas County Forensic Lab’s operating costs and reduces reliance on local general revenue support of the Forensic Lab.
• The Lab Grant is financed by criminal fines collected statewide, Pinellas County will receive 12.6% of the fines collected through FY19 in an amount not to exceed $290,000.00.
• Since 2011, the number of DNA cases submitted to the Forensic Lab has increased by 127%, with the most significant growth coming from sexual assault cases due to legislative changes. In 2017, 1,975 DNA cases were submitted to the Forensic Lab for analysis.
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Strategic Plan:
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
This Grant Agreement is recurring supplemental funding of the Pinellas County Forensic Lab’s (Forensic Lab) operating costs. The Statewide Criminal Analysis Laboratory System Grant (Lab Grant) reduces reliance on local general revenue support of the Forensic Lab. The agreement is retroactive to October 1, 2018.
Background Information:
The Lab Grant is financed by criminal fines collected statewide, under Section 938.07 and 938.55 Florida Statutes. Pinellas County will receive 12.6% of the fines collected through Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19). Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) disperses funding quarterly based upon the total fines collected.
Section 943.32, Florida Statutes, establishes a statewide criminal analysis laboratory system that includes the Forensic Lab, a locally funded laboratory eligible for funding under Section 943.35 Florida Statutes. The Forensic Lab employs professionals that provide the County’s criminal justice system with a variety of forensic services including but not limited to DNA tests, toxicology reports, and trace evidence analysis.
Since 2011, the number of DNA cases submitted to the Forensic Lab has increased by 127%, with the most significant growth coming from sexual assault cases due to legislative changes. In 2017, 1,975 DNA cases were submitted to the Forensic Lab for analysis.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding in an amount not to exceed $290,000.00 is provided by Grant 2019-SFA-CL-8A-004 from FDLE. There is no match required for this grant. The FY19 Adopted Budget included $285,000.00 for this grant.
Staff Member Responsible:
Daisy Rodriguez, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Attachments:
Grant Agreement
Intent to Apply