Agenda

Return

C. 29

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Date:	January 15, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Appropriation Adjustment - SO Forensic Division (RapidHIT ID System)

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/15/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Liz Arbuckle 925-335-1529
cc:	Liz Arbuckle Heike Anderson Paul Reyes

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: January 15, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE Appropriation and Revenue Adjustment No.5042 authorizing new revenue in the amount of $97,500 in the Office of the Sheriff (0255) and appropriating it for the purchase of a RapidHIT ID System for the Forensic Services Division.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This action increases revenue and appropriations by $97,500 with no change in Net County Cost. The new revenue is from the Sheriff's Asset Forfeiture Funds.

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff’s Forensic Services Division (FSD) is tasked with providing timely and accurate Laboratory results related to criminal investigations for the SO and 24 Law Enforcement Agencies within the County. This mission is accomplished by prioritizing casework, triaging requests for analysis and incorporating state of the art technology for a streamlined workflow. The FSD has been accredited by ASCLD/LAB ISO 25 (now ANAB) since 2002 and follows the FBI mandated CODIS requirements for any and all forensic DNA analytical methods.

The Crime Lab has identified the need for the acquisition of a revolutionary mechanism for high throughput DNA analysis also known as Rapid DNA analysis. The FBI defines Rapid DNA as “the fully automated (hands free) process of developing a CODIS Core Loci STR profile from a reference sample buccal swab. The “swab in – profile out” 90-minute process consists of automated extraction, amplification, separation, detection, and allele calling without human intervention.

In 2017, the Rapid DNA Act was signed into law and establishes a system for the integration of Rapid DNA instruments for use by law enforcement "to solve and prevent violent crimes and other crimes, to exonerate the innocent, to prevent DNA analysis backlogs".

The ability of the FSD to impact overall field and investigative operations with the advent of Rapid DNA cannot be underestimated. As the DA’s Office continues to push for more and more “Rush” requests in order to hold detainees over for charging purposes, the need for timely results is critical. The role and scope of the FSD has evolved to include not just routine biological examination and DNA analysis but real-time results and investigative leads based on rush requests and dangers to the community.

As of today and through the end of the calendar year, Thermo Fisher, a longstanding partner for the DNA Unit and its current successful operation is offering a quote for a RapidHIT ID System at a significant 50% discount. The offer for this instrument is $97,123.48 (including shipping and taxes) – see quote attached.

Other forensic laboratories have adopted Rapid DNA technology; Orange County Sheriff’s Office here in California, Palm Bay Sheriff’s Office in Florida, Buck’s County in Pennsylvania have employed this RapidHIT ID System for the last ten years with great success. Rapid DNA has also most recently been used in Butte County for human remains identification for the Camp Fire victims.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Estimated revenue and appropriations will not be reflected in the current year budget for the purpose of acquiring equipment.