REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MINDY CASTO, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: MARK SALAZAR, Deputy Police Chief
Investigative Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the 2024 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant program:
1. Authorize the Chief of Police to accept $1,996,599 in grant funding for the SAKI grant awarded to the Fresno Police Department from the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopt the 51st Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2024-122 to appropriate $715,200 for the Police Department’s FY24 Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant program (Requires Five Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council authorize acceptance of $1,996,599 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance and adopt the 51st Amendment to AAR No 2024-122 to appropriate $715,200 for the Police Department’s SAKI FY 2025 budget. The remaining funds will be utilized in FY 2026-2027. Funds have been awarded for the 2024 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative to the Fresno Police Department’s Family Justice Bureau within the Investigations Division.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno has been awarded grant funds of $1,996,559 from the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance to assist with the follow up investigation of cold case sexual assault cases. The grant period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the Fresno Police Department Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit (CCU) was formed with grant funding from the 2018 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant from the U.S Department of Justice through the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The funds were used to investigate 694 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) potential suspect DNA hits received from the period 2000-2015. Two detectives along with a Rape Crisis Services Advocate were assigned to the unit.
In September 2019, the Police Department was awarded the 2019 SAKI grant. This grant funding provided one additional full-time Detective and one full-time Deputy District Attorney to pursue all DNA hits and leads related to the cases being returned from lab testing for cold cases from 2016 to 2018. Both grants provided essential funding to provide personnel to investigate and prosecute the backlog of cases.
In September 2020, the Police Department was awarded the 2020 SAKI grant. This funding involved identifying and testing the Sexual Assault Kits (SAKs) in our inventory that BJA would classify as “partially tested.” Of the approximate 2,500 SAKs in our inventory, it is estimated that nearly 50% have suspect DNA profiles while the others do not. A retired Department of Justice Forensic Laboratory Supervisor (Criminalist) was hired and reviewed each of the SAKs in evidence to determine if further testing was needed to meet the requirements of BJA. Through the 2020 SAKI grant initiative, the forensic testing results were as follows: 149 CODIS Profiles Uploaded; 77 CODIS Hits; 10 CODIS Ineligible Profiles; 14 Consent Partner Profiles. Some of these cases remain under investigation by CCU detectives. The criminalist had a 37% success rate in detecting DNA profiles that would have gone unidentified without SAKI funding.
With funding from the SAKI 2021 grant, two new full-time Crime Specialist positions were approved for this project. The Crime Specialists are responsible for the census portion of the grant as it is very tedious, time-consuming and a heavy lift. The sworn personnel, currently assigned to the Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit under the SAKI 2020 grant, have been utilized to handle the actual collection of Lawfully Owed DNA and other high-risk investigations. The Crime Specialists review cases during the census portion and point out any similarities, etc., with the anticipation of solving other cases. The grant activity period for SAKI 2021 ends September 30, 2025. Through this initiative, detectives have collected over 100 lawfully owed DNA samples from previous convicted offenders to include sex and arson registrants.
With funding from the SAKI 2024 grant, FPD currently has 64 sexual assault kits awaiting further testing. In addition, there are post-FY 2020 SAKI cases that also require criminalist reviews. The total number of additional victim cases from the years 2020 - 2024 that the criminalist will review is approximately 690. Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit detectives will continue working “cold cases” and be in place to investigate these and future leads. Through the continued partnership with the James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center (CVAC), the CCU and victim advocate remain committed providing support to victims of sexual assaults.
With the augmentation of grant funding, FPD, Fresno County Victim Services, and a Criminalist, will collectively work to ensure all SAKs are tested to completion while respecting the wishes of the victim. This grant funding will provide proper sexual assault kit investigative and evidence sustainability.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this is for the acceptance of a grant. The DNA Analysis project will then appropriately go out to bid with the most qualified laboratory being selected.
FISCAL IMPACT
The grant provides full cost recovery for all positions, operations, training, and supplies for this program during the performance period of the grant. Expenses will be claimed and reimbursed on a quarterly basis. This funding will enable the Fresno Police Department to continue to enhance its current capabilities and response to sexual assault cold cases identified within the City of Fresno.
Attachments:
Grant Award
51st Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2024-122