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Grant Application - Department of Justice FY26 Technology and Equipment Program
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dorothy Thomas, Sheriff’s Office, Public Safety Finance Administrator, 704-283-3578
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize the County Manager to submit the associated grant application and make necessary assurances and certifications associated with the grant application as substantially consistent with this agenda item.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The Union County Sheriff’s Office has been selected to receive a grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). This award provides 100% funding for the purchase of Rapid DNA Instrumentation for use within the Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab. No County match is required.
The Sheriff’s Office will acquire a Rapid DNA system capable of producing a DNA profile in approximately 90 minutes, a significant improvement over current turnaround times at the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Crime Lab, which continues to experience substantial backlogs. This technology, developed and approved under FBI guidance, is increasingly used by law enforcement agencies nationwide to support timely and accurate investigative decisions.
Rapid DNA instrumentation will be made available to law enforcement agencies within Union County’s jurisdiction. The system will enhance investigative capabilities by enabling quicker suspect identification, improving case clearance rates, and reducing reliance on overburdened state laboratory resources. Agencies across the country have demonstrated that Rapid DNA technology improves public safety outcomes, conserves investigative resources, assists in the apprehension of offenders, and helps exonerate individuals wrongly accused.
The adoption of Rapid DNA technology will directly benefit Union County residents. Crime affects individuals from all backgrounds, and the ability to rapidly process DNA evidence strengthens the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to protect victims, solve cases efficiently, and build community trust through forensic‑led investigations
The Rapid DNA Instrumentation grant is fully funded by the COPS Office, with no financial obligation to Union County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None. The cost associated with the grant will be $861,000 with 100% funded by the federal grant (COPS Office).