Legislation Details

File #: 25-6108    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 9/23/2025 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 10/16/2025 Final action: 10/16/2025
Title: Request by the District Attorney for approval to accept from the Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division grant funds in the amount of $330,000, with no required match, for the FY26 District Attorney Testing of Forensic Evidence Grant Program.
Attachments: 1. FY26_Testing Forensic Evidence_Backup.pdf

Primary Department: District Attorney

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Sean Teare, District Attorney

 

Secondary Department: Choose an item.

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Grant - Award

 

Project ID (if applicable):

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture                     

 

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request by the District Attorney for approval to accept from the Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division grant funds in the amount of $330,000, with no required match, for the FY26 District Attorney Testing of Forensic Evidence Grant Program.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

The purpose of this grant is to fund district attorney offices for costs associated with the forensic analysis of physical evidence. The District Attorney’s Office will use funds awarded to assist with unlocking cellphones involved in criminal investigations.

 

Expected Impact:

This grant will fund a software program to unlock cellphones involved in criminal cases in the Digital Forensic Unit in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

 

Alternative Options:

This is a crucial funding source for the Digital Forensic Unit. Without it, they would be unable to perform crucial functions for the county’s criminal cases.

 

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  1. Make Harris County safer and more just.

County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):   E1: Modernize data and technology architecture across the legal system.

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  Choose an item.

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.

Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

02/06/25

25-1041

Request to Apply (Approved)

 

Location:

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Choose an item.

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

 

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

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$

$

$

$

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$

$

$

$

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$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$

$

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

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$

$

$

$

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$

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Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

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Total Funding Sources

$

$

$

$

Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only)

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

No. of Grant Years

Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Grant

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$

$330,000.00

$330,000.00

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

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-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

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-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: 10/16/2025

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Kevin Le, Finance Assistant Director, District Attorney’s Office

 

Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Award, Budget Summary