Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police was awarded funding through the FY2013 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program from the National Institute of Justice. This federally supported program seeks to improve the infrastructure and analysis capacity of existing state and local crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis so they can process DNA samples efficiently and cost effectively. Funds have been awarded for equipment, DNA analysis supplies, and for training current and new DNA analysts in the latest technologies in this ever-evolving field. The cost breakdown for this grant award is: DNA testing supplies $36,293.00, automated extraction and set-up system $250,000.00, and training $5,310.00. The automated extraction instrument
will be used to extract multiple evidence samples and prepare the them for DNA analysis.
These grant funds will help the Division of Police Crime Lab to process DNA samples efficiently and reduce the wait time for DNA case analysis. The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $291,603.00 grant is Crime Lab Manager, Jami St. Clair.
The grant award start date is October 1, 2013 and end date is March 31, 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of the $291,603.00 grant award and the appropriation of those funds from the National Institute of Justice to improve DNA analysis. The City of Columbus received an award of $272,315.00 in 2011 and $248,307.00 in 2012. No matching funds are required and all grant expenditures will be reimbursed by the grant awarded funding.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a FY2013 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program award from the National Institute of Justice; to authorize the Crime Lab Manager as the official city representative to act in connection with this grant; and to authorize an appropriation of $291,603.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to ...
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