Fiscal Note
There is no impact on cost controls or the levy. Grant funds will be accounted for in a special revenue fund.
Title
Authorizing the Mayor, City Clerk and Chief of Police to accept up to $40,500 for cold case investigations using DNA analysis from a U.S. Department of Justice grant awarded to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, in cooperation with the Madison Police Department, the Dane County Sheriff's Office, the Dane County Coroner's Office and the Rock County Sheriff's Office.
Body
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice has provided funding for states and units of local government to identify, review, and investigate violent crime cold cases that have the potential to be solved using DNA analysis, and to locate and analyze biological evidence associated with these cases; and,
WHEREAS, experience has shown that cold case programs can solve a substantial number of violent crime cold cases, including homicides and sexual assaults. Advances in DNA technologies have substantially increased the successful DNA analysis of aged, degraded, limited, or otherwise compromised biological evidence; and
WHEREAS, as a result, crime scene samples once thought to be unsuitable for testing may now yield DNA profiles. Additionally, samples that previously generated inconclusive DNA results may now be successfully analyzed using newer methods; and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations was awarded $506,323 for the Wisconsin Cold Case Initiative Resolving Cold Cases Using DNA, with up to $40,500 for the Madison Police Department; and
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department recognizes that some major crimes are not quickly solved and become classified as cold cases, in which new leads and convictions of those responsible become harder to obtain; and
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department has created a Cold Case Review Team to review these aging cases and show our community the Department's capability and commitment to achieving justice for the victims and their families. The Team consists of members from the Department who are experts in various fields and have the ability to open new doors through innovative ideas. The Team also has members from other agencies to assist in particular cases. The team will re-examine cases using a broad focus and a range of alternative techniques including any advances made in forensic capabilities since the initial investigation of the case. Through the Team's forensic and investigative expertise, the Department will be able to further investigate and potentially solve cold cases for victims and families.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison, through the Madison Police Department, is authorized to accept a Wisconsin Cold Case Initiative award from the State of Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigations, up to $40,500 (SG50-73212-712100).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council authorizes the expenditure of grant funds in accordance with the grant application, with modifications upon appropriate approvals from the Division of Criminal Investigations, for sworn officer overtime for the Madison Police Department Cold Case Review Team ($31,408.00 SG50-51300-712100; $9,092.00 SG50-52700-712100).