Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $1,000,000)
The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
The California Forensic Science Institute (CFSI), utilizing its strategic partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and the California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), will use funds to combat the Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) backlog, which is critical in assisting rape victims and reducing future incidents. The project will support the following: 1) selecting SAK cases that target viable prosecutions; 2) facilitating the outsourcing of selected backlog cases to approved DNA vendors who have proven that they can provide accurate test results and follow the same rigorous technical standards that apply to public crime laboratories; and 3) providing specialized, advanced DNA training to DNA criminalists to help them be better prepared to perform their duties. Awareness and instruction on new technologies and techniques will enable criminalists to increase their efficiency in working on DNA evidence.
NCA/NCF