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 or her designee to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fresno County Probation Department James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center (CVAC) to fund a full-time Victim Witness Advocate for two years of the three-year grant performance period totaling $217,569 ($107,177 Year 1 of the MOU and $110,392 Year 2 of the MOU)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council allow the Chief of Police or her designee to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fresno County Probation Department James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center (CVAC) to fund a full-time Victim/Witness Advocate for years two- and three of the three-year term grant performance period, totaling $217,569. The remaining funds will be utilized in FY 28. 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 performance period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027. This MOU will be made retroactive to October 1, 2025, and expire September 30, 2027. All SAKI grants last 3 years (36 months).
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the Fresno Police Department Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit (CCU) was formed with grant funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), 2018 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) grant. These funds were used to investigate 694 selected cases fro...
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