DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Office of the Governor Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division DNA Testing Grant Program.
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Police Department will provide the Public Safety Committee a briefing on a grant application and award from the Office of the Governor Public Safety Office, Criminal Justice Division for DNA Testing reimbursement in an up to amount of $275,000 for the period of October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.
The ratification of the submission of the grant application and acceptance of award is scheduled for City Council approval at the June 25th City Council "A" Session.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The purpose of this program is to assist law enforcement agencies with the costs associated with the forensic analysis of physical evidence in relation to sexual assault or other sex offenses.
In prior years, funds were received through a reimbursement request submitted by SAPD to OOG/CJD. Beginning this year, due to changes in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (Article 102.0569(e), agencies are required to apply for the funds through a grant application.
The grant application was submitted on February 3, 2020, and the award notification was received on April 22, 2020. The grant award is for an amount not to exceed $275,000 for the reimbursement of costs associated with DNA kits collected from sexual assault/sexual offence victims and offenders. The grant period is October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020.
The DNA kits consist of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exams which are conducted on the victim and the suspected offender if known. The DNA kits are submitted to the Bexar County Criminal Investigation Laboratory for analysis testing. If the victim's offender is known the DNA results are kept for potential comparison to the Victim's SANE finding. If the Victim's offender is unknown the DNA results will be ...
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