Title
Ordinance in the Amount of $51,160 Amending State, Federal, and Other Grants Fund Budget for the Appropriation of Federal Forfeiture Grant for the Purchase of Interview Recording System
Body
Department: Police
Council District: Citywide
Public Hearing: No
Advertising Date/By: NA
Contact 1 and Phone: Capt. BL James, 433-7380
Contact 2 and Phone: Stephanie Moore, 373-2352
PURPOSE:
The Greensboro Police Department wishes to purchase an interview recording system which will update and enhance the current recording system in the department's Criminal Investigations Division. The purchase will be funded with the department's federal forfeiture proceeds. Title 21, United States Code, Section 881 (e) allows local law enforcement agencies to share in the proceeds from the sale of seized assets and cash from certain criminal investigations. A budget ordinance needs to be approved by City Council in order to spend these grant funds.
BACKGROUND:
The Greensboro Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division currently has a recording system installed in its interview rooms; however, the system is inefficient and outdated. NCGS 15A-211 requires the creation of an electronic record of an entire custodial interrogation in order to eliminate disputes about interrogations, thereby improving prosecution of the guilty while affording protection to the innocent and increasing court efficiency. The police department wishes to invest in a new system to assist in compliance with the state statute and with on-going criminal investigations.
Title 21, United States Code, Section 881 (e) allows local law enforcement agencies to share in the proceeds from the sale of seized assets and cash from certain criminal investigations. Equitably shared funds shall be used by law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes only. Expenses will include the purchase of the interview recording system equipment and data conversion from the old system to the new by the vendor. Funding for these items are not included within the department's general fund and is allowable under Guidelines for Federal Forfeiture Funds.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The Greensboro Police Department has identified Federal Forfeiture Funds for the purchase of interview recording system. The funds will be housed in account #220-3554-01. There are no on-going costs.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
It is requested and recommended that the City Council adopt the attached budget ordinance to appropriate funding in the amount of $51,160 in Federal Forfeiture Funds for the purchase of an interview recording system for the Greensboro Police Criminal Investigations Division.