Title
District Attorney recommending the Board
1) Approve the use of Supplemental Local Law Enforcement Funding in Fiscal Year 2017/18 for the purchase of equipment and software for a digital forensic lab in the District Attorney's leased facility;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing revenue and appropriations within the District Attorney's budget by $40,000; and
3) Approve the addition of a Forensic Tower to the District Attorney's Fiscal Year 2017/18 Fixed Asset List.
FUNDING: Supplemental Local Law Enforcement Funding.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
1) Approve the use of Supplemental Local Law Enforcement Funding in Fiscal Year 2017/18 for the purchase of equipment and software for a digital forensic lab in the District Attorney's leased facility;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing revenue and appropriations within the District Attorney's budget by $40,000; and
3) Approve the addition of a Forensic Tower to the District Attorney's Fiscal Year 2017/18 Fixed Asset List.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The County of El Dorado has historically relied on the Sheriff’s Office to conduct the majority of digital forensics investigations in the area, which also conducts such examinations for all of the surrounding agencies including Placerville Police Department, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Fish and Wildlife, CDCR, Probation, and Animal Control.
It is not uncommon for forensic acquisitions and analyses to take several days if not weeks to complete. These requests are often time-sensitive in nature and could mean the difference between conviction and acquittal. The addition of a District Attorney’s Office digital forensic laboratory would reduce the man-hours required to conduct such examinations and ultimately provide long-term cost savings not only to this agency but to those utilizing our services. It would further assist in preventing the need to contract out forensic work to private businesses who often charge exorbitant fees for such analyses.
Per CA Government Code 30061-30063, moneys allocated from a Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account (SLESA) to a recipient entity shall be expended exclusively to provide front line law enforcement services.
ALTERNATIVES
The department could continue to utilize the Sheriff's Office or contract for services on an as needed basis.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to foward executed budget transfer to the Auditor Controller for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson