Primary Department: Sheriff
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Ed Gonzalez
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Award
Project ID (if applicable): GY26_LV_Verus; GY26_TG_Verus
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Office of the Governor/Homeland Security Division
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
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 Sheriff’s Office for approval to accept from the Office of the Governor/Homeland Security Division grant funds in the amount of $24,500,000, with no required match for the FY26 Jails Contiguous to Texas Anti-Gang Counties - Verus.
end
Background and Discussion:
Since 2020, the Harris County Jail has served as a pilot site for the implementation of the Verus software and received funding in the FY22 Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) Center grant from the Office of the Governor to continue use of the software. This project proved to be successful in strengthening intelligence gathering, gang tracking, and information-sharing capabilities for local investigative agencies. The state has approved the Houston TAG Center to manage the statewide expansion of the project to jails participating in TAG-related investigations. The project will include acquiring the software, installing and configuring it in participating jails, training correctional and intelligence staff, and integrating it with existing data-sharing systems. This project includes the continued use of the Verus software in the Harris County Jail.
Expected Impact:
The Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) grant program for local governments administered by the Office of Public Safety through the Office of the Texas Governor supports regional, multidisciplinary approaches to combat gang violence through the coordination of gang prevention, intervention, and suppression activities across the state. The intended impact of this project is improved identification of gang members and affiliates, better monitoring of criminal activity within correctional facilities, and enhanced intelligence support to law enforcement agencies, ultimately reducing gang-related violence and organized crime threats in the community.
Alternative Options:
If not approved, the Houston TAG will not be able to implement this project.
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): A4: Improve safety through targeted pursuit of violent crime suspects.
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):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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10/16 |
525 |
Request to Apply |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Sheriff's Office - Anti-Gang Initiative |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
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Total Funding Sources |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$24,500,000 |
$24,500,000 |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
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- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
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- |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
Tiffany Dulaca Assistant County Attorney |
CAO Review Completion Date |
10/31/2025 |
Anticipated Court Date: 11/13/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 9/1/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: LaStacia Spencer, Operation & Compliance Manager, Sheriff’s Office
Attachments (if applicable): Order, Statement of Grant Award, Budget