Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police has been awarded a FY2017 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act grant of $22,888.05. This is a federal grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. The Division of Police has been awarded a Forensic Science Improvement Act grant annually since 2003 to fund forensic lab personnel training, lab equipment purchases, and overtime costs to process casework. The City must be a subgrantee to the State of Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services to participate in this program according to the federal grant guidelines. Therefore, the Mayor is required to sign a subgrantee award to accept this grant on behalf of the City. The official City contacts authorized to act in connection with this grant are Crime Lab Supervisors, Angela Farrington and Amy Amstutz. The grant program provides funds to improve forensic crime lab activities. This FY2017 award will fund training and travel costs for forensic lab personnel to attend new and/or updated forensic training.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible for the grant award, effective as of January 1, 2018.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the acceptance and appropriation of a grant in the amount of $22,888.05 from the Federal government for registration and training for the City's Crime Lab personnel. The City was awarded Forensic Science Improvement Act grant funds of $21,713.39 in 2014, $23,453.70 in 2015 and $25,023.65 in 2016. All funds appropriated are reimbursable from the grant award. Appropriation will be activated upon receiving the fully executed agreement.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a subgrantee award through the FY2017 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act via the State of Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services; to authorize Angela Farringto...
Click here for full text