Legislation Details

File #: 26-7060    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 10/14/2026 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 10/29/2026 Final action: 10/29/2026
Title: Request by the Sheriff’s Office for approval to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance for grant funds in the amount of $700,000, with no required match, and that the County Judge execute Appendix 1 for the FY26 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA Grant.

Primary Department: Sheriff

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Ed Gonzalez, Sheriff

 

Secondary Department: N/A

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Grant - Application

 

Project ID (if applicable):

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance

 

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): 5%

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Rate is not 0% and is listed above.

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request by the Sheriff’s Office for approval to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance for grant funds in the amount of $700,000, with no required match, and that the County Judge execute Appendix 1 for the FY26 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA Grant.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

While the application is still under development, the Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA grant is intended to support the investigation and prosecution of violent cold cases in which a suspect DNA profile has already been developed. The initiative aims to enhance public safety, hold violent offenders accountable, and advance case resolution for victims and their families.

 

Expected Impact:

This grant project seeks to increase the number of cold case prosecutions and to decrease the number of unsolved homicide cold cases in Harris County.

 

Alternative Options:

Not applying for this grant would be to forfeit the opportunity to receive these funds.

 

 

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

County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  Choose an item.

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):  N/A

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

 

 

 

 

Location: Countywide

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Choose an item.

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

FY 2026 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA grant

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

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$

$

$

$

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$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$

$

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

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$

$

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Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

$

$

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.

$0

$0

$0

3

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$650,000

$50,000

$700,000

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only)

CAO Reviewer Name and Title

 

CAO Review Completion Date

Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Anticipated Court Date: 10/29/2026

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 1/1/2027

 

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

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Amanet Habte, Grants Specialist III, Sheriff’s Office

 

Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Funding Opportunity, Appendix 1