Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police was awarded funding through the FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and 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 additional DNA equipment, analysis supplies, and training analysts in the latest technologies in this ever-evolving field. The cost breakdown for this two-year grant award is as follows: Personnel costs of $219,020.00, DNA testing supplies of $44,300.00, DNA equipment of $94,600.00 and travel and training costs of $8,688.00.
The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $366,608.00 grant is Crime Lab Manager, Angela Farrington. The grant award start date is October 1, 2025 and ends September 30, 2027.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible as the grant award effective date was October 1, 2025 and the Division needs to procure the updated DNA equipment and supplies as soon as possible to not lose funding for reimbursements.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of the $366,608.00 grant award and the appropriation of those funds from the National Institute of Justice to improve DNA analysis. The City of Columbus received similar awards of $347,439.00 in 2021, $379,664.00 in 2022, $388,271.00 in 2023, $400,919.00 in 2024. 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 FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant award from the National Institute of Justice; to authorize the Crime Lab Manager as the official city representative to act in connection with this gra...
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