Title
National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative FY 2023: National Cold Case Initiative Grant Program
Action
Action:
Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant in the amount of $2,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to implement initiatives that enhance investigations of violent crime cold cases.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Johnny Jennings, Police
Steven Brochu, Police
Joel McNelly, Police
Explanation
* The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) often applies for grants to fund programs and expenses that support the approved operating budget.
* CMPD has received the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant from the U.S Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance since Fiscal Year 2016.
* The goal of the grant program is to enhance previous efforts by implementing a comprehensive approach to resolve violent crime.
* FY 2023 SAKI purpose area 6 grant funds will be used to investigate violent crime cold cases that are not sexually motivated through multiple initiatives including the following:
* Designating a Site Coordinator to serve as the central point of contact to ensure the team is meeting milestones,
* Establishing a Multidisciplinary Working Group,
* Developing a comprehensive strategy to address the outstanding cold cases,
* Exploring ways to improve victim advocacy,
* Hiring a Cold Case Analyst to conduct follow-up investigations with Violent Crime Detectives,
* Hiring a Crime Lab Technician to assist the Criminalist DNA Analysts in preparing case files,
* Providing overtime for Criminalist DNA Analysts to review profiles developed from violent crime cold case evidence by the private lab for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS),
* Providing overtime for Violent Crime Detectives to conduct follow-up investigations and enter criteria cases into CODIS, and
* Hiring an Assistant District Attorney to research and prepare cases for prosecution that resulted from CODIS hits.
* The grant is for a three-year term from O...
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