Agenda

Return

C. 49

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Date:	March 7, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

FY 2017 Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/07/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

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

ABSENT:

Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor

Contact:

Sandra Brown 925-335-1553

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: March 7, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution No. 2017/69 authorizing the Sheriff-Coroner, or designee, to apply for and accept the FY 2017 Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program, in an initial amount of $239,005, to replace outdated forensic laboratory equipment for the period beginning January 1, 2018 through the end of the grant period.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No County cost. Initial revenue: $239,005, 100% federal no County match required (CFDA #16.742)

BACKGROUND:

The FY 2017 Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program will be used to purchase and replace outdated GCMS instruments in the controlled substances and toxicology units as well as update software for existing instruments. The GCMS manufacturer will cease technical support of the instrument hardware and software currently being used after 2017. The computers operating the instruments are obsolete and no longer supported by the Sheriff’s technical services division.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The Office of the Sheriff Forensic Services Division (FSD) is an American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) accredited crime lab providing forensic services to more than 20 law enforcement agencies within the County. In 2015 and 2016, the controlled substances and toxicology units received 45% of all casework requests received by the FSD; totaling over 7,300 samples analyzed. Nearly all forensic analysis confirmations in the controlled substance and toxicology units are performed using the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) instruments. The project objectives include: (1) purchase and installation of new GCMS instrument hardware and software which will be supported by the manufacturer, (2) upgrading existing instrument software and updating the computer operating system to one which will be supported by technical services. The anticipated outcomes of the GCMS instrumentation modernization project are an increase in casework productivity by reducing turn-around time and a decrease in the number of cases in the backlog in the controlled substances and toxicology units.Efficiency of obtaining results in forensic casework will provide accurate and reliable results for the criminal justice system. Replacing outdated and aged instruments will ensure that reliable instrumentation is available to Criminalists to analyze cases needed for the judicial system.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Due to the age of the instruments (16-18 years) they are needing more non-routine maintenance and service calls, which is an increased cost to the department. Since this is the primary instrumentation used in confirmation analysis in 45% of the Crime Lab requests, if this instrumentation or computers fail and are unable to repaired there could be a negative effect on the efficiency of results being reported to agencies for use in the judicial process.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

None.