DATE:
September 09, 2025
03
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
SHERIFF - APPROVAL OF A GOVERNING BODY RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE COVERDELL FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT GRANT (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Title
OVERVIEW
The Sheriff's Office Regional Crime Laboratory (Crime Lab) provides forensic services to over thirty local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The Crime Lab receives funding from the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) also has additional grant opportunities such as the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant which provides funding to eligible California forensic science crime laboratories, medical examiners' offices, and coroners' offices identified by the California Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (CACLD). Funding is typically provided to acquire and maintain accreditation, reduce backlogs, and improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science services.
An updated Board of Supervisors (Board) resolution is being requested by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services providing for revised authority for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant to the Sheriff and the addition of staff directly involved in the grant process that have increased or changed since the last Board approval in 2013.
Today's action requests authorization from the Board for the Sheriff to apply for and accept grant funding from Cal OES, including reviewing and executing all related documents for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Grant. The grant funding allows the Crime Lab to meet professional and accreditation standards while creating a positive financial impact on the Sheriff's Office. It also requests the waiver of Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants, and Revenue Contracts -Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery for mandatory training to maintain accreditation status, equipment purchases utilizing the most up to date technology in forensic science and reduce backlog on cases. By covering the costs of continuing education, such as travel, lodging, and registration the grant prevents these expenses from burdening the Crime Lab's operational budget. Utilizing operation funds for the costs of continuing education including travel and registration fees could result in the Crime Lab being out of compliance for mandatory training or cutting other costs utilized on a regular basis for equipment and supplies. This request would provide the subgrantees an efficient path to applying and accepting the grant, authorize changes through the preauthorization process to prevent missing deadlines, prepare budget modifications, and comply with quick turnaround times set by CalOES. Timelines for these requests often have a quick turn around and this authorization would allow for a faster processing timeline.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
SHERIFF
1. Authorize the Sheriff to apply for and accept grant funding from California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the California Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant in current and subsequent fiscal years, if there are no material changes to the grant terms and funding levels.
2. Authorize the Sheriff and Sheriff's designees to review and execute all required Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant and related documents in current and subsequent fiscal years, including any agreements, annual extensions, amendments, and/or revisions thereof that do not materially impact or alter the services or funding levels.
3. Adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO RELATING TO THE PAUL COVERDELL FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT GRANT.
4. Waive Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants, Revenue Contracts - Department Responsibility
for Cost Recovery, which requires full cost recovery for grants, as this grant program
does not recover full cost.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The California Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant to be used for training, assisting, and supporting forensic laboratory staff, enhances the delivery of forensic science services within the county of San Diego. This contributes to a more effective and equitable justice system. By providing funding for resources, such as improved training, the program helps ensure that forensic analysis is conducted accurately and efficiently, which can contribute to fairer outcomes in the criminal justice system. Training also helps address broader issues that may disproportionately affect minority communities by improving the scientific rigor and standardization of forensic techniques, which helps reduce the impact of implicit or explicit biases that could influence forensic analyses.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program furthers the Sustainability goals of the County by helping the Sheriff's Office advance training in the forensic science field, and by adding focus to improving the quality and timeliness of services. The grant aids in training forensic laboratory personnel, thus helping ensure that practitioners are knowledgeable and skilled, which in turn benefits the quality of forensic science services.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with today's request to apply for and accept grant funds from the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program in future fiscal years. There are no matching funds required. Current year funds from this grant are approximately $75,750. Appropriations and revenues in subsequent years will be included in future Operational Plans. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The Sheriff's Office Regional Crime Laboratory (Crime Lab) is one of 18 California public crime laboratories that is a member of an association organized through the California Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (CACLD) which coordinates the State's use of Paul Coverdell grant funds on a yearly basis. The CACLD applies to the State of California to accept Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program funds on behalf of the members, making each individual member a subgrantee. As one of the subgrantees, the Sheriff's Office utilizes the grant funds to support ongoing mandatory training and equipment purchases, which enable the Crime Lab to maintain compliance while reducing the need for additional revenue for these activities during the fiscal year. On April 9, 2013 (4), the Board of Supervisors authorized the Sheriff in subsequent years, to apply for and accept funding from the Cal OES for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant (Coverdell Grant) if there were no material changes to the grant terms and funding levels and to review and execute all required grant and grant-related documents that do not materially impact or alter the services or funding levels.
To apply for the Coverdell Grant, Cal OES has requested a more recent Board authorization and resolution. This item requests a governing body resolution and the authorization for the Sheriff and Sheriff's designees to review and execute all required Coverdell Grant and grant-related documents including any annual extensions, amendments, and/or revisions thereof in current and subsequent years that do not materially impact or alter the services or funding level. The revenues from this grant cover costs for mandatory continuing education and training for many Criminalists and Forensic Technicians. This is also a request to adopt a governing body resolution for current and subsequent years, which authorizes the Sheriff, San Diego County, and Sheriff's designees to execute any actions necessary for the purpose of the Coverdell Grant. CalOES has requested the letter with the appointment of the current Sheriff and addition of more staffing involved in the grant process and acceptance.
The resolution authorizes the application and acceptance of the grant funds and delegates authority to the Sheriff and/or Sheriff's designees to act on the County's behalf in matters pertaining to the grant. These individuals would be authorized to act as the Sheriff's Office Authorized Agent including the Sheriff, Executive Director for Management Services Bureau, Chief Financial Officer, Crime Lab Director, Crime Lab Assistant Directors, and Crime Lab Analysts. This delegated authority would authorize the parties to submit, accept, review, and execute any required grant related matters, as needed on behalf of the County. Today's action requests authorization from the Board of Supervisors for the Sheriff to apply for and accept grant funding from Cal OES, including reviewing and executing all related documents for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Grant. The grant funding allows the Crime Lab to meet professional and accreditation standards while creating a positive financial impact on the Sheriff's Office. By covering the costs of continuing education, such as travel, lodging, and registration the grant prevents these expenses from burdening the Crime Lab's operational budget. It also requests the waiver of Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants, and Revenue Contracts -Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery for mandatory training to maintain accreditation status, equipment purchases utilizing the most up to date technology in forensic science and reduce backlog on cases. By covering the costs of continuing education, such as travel, lodging, and registration the grant prevents these expenses from burdening the Crime Lab's operational budget. Utilizing operation funds for the costs of continuing education including travel and registration fees could result in the Crime Lab being out of compliance for mandatory training or cutting other costs utilized on a regular basis for equipment and supplies. This request would provide the subgrantees an efficient path to applying and accepting the grant, authorize changes through the preauthorization process to prevent missing deadlines, prepare budget modifications, and comply with quick turnaround times set by CalOES. Timelines for these requests often have a quick turn around and this authorization would allow for a faster processing timeline.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today's proposed action supports the Empower and Community Engagement Strategic Initiative of the County of San Diego's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan by providing funding for continued education of Crime Lab staff to stay up to date on their skills and maintain a high level of knowledge related to forensic science practices and innovation. Receiving this grant for training enables Sheriff's personnel to better serve the residents of San Diego County.
Respectfully submitted,
KELLY A. MARTINEZ
Sheriff
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO RELATING TO THE PAUL COVERDELL FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT GRANT
SUBJECT:
SHERIFF - APPROVAL OF A GOVERNING BODY RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE APPLICATION FOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE COVERDELL FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT GRANT (DISTRICTS: ALL)
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COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
AGENDA ITEM
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
PALOMA AGUIRRE
First District
JOEL ANDERSON
Second District
TERRA LAWSON-REMER
Third District
MONICA MONTGOMERY STEPPE
Fourth District
JIM DESMOND
Fifth District
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