COSTA MESA, Calif. (May 22, 2020) – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) will use approved Proposition 69 funding to purchase Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) equipment. This week, during the May 19 Council meeting, the Costa Mesa City Council approved accepting $107,885 in Proposition 69 funds, which will be used to purchase equipment for the CSI Unit to assist with the collection of DNA evidence.
In November 2019, CMPD submitted a grant request for Proposition 69 funds to acquire equipment for the CSI lab. The Proposition 69 Committee subsequently approved $107,885 in funds for CMPD to purchase equipment including a forensic air compressor, various types of scene lights, Crime-Lite kits and a laptop, organizers and scene lights for two CSI vans. Afterward, the Orange County Board of Supervisors authorized the allocation of Proposition 69 funds to local and county agencies, including CMPD, which in turn was approved by the City Council.
Proposition 69
In November 2004, California voters passed Proposition 69, the "DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act,” to expand and modify state law regarding the collection and use of criminal offender DNA samples and palm print impressions. As a result, Government Code 76104.6 was enacted and mandated a fee for every fine, penalty, or forfeiture imposed and collected by the courts for criminal offenses. The collected fee goes into the DNA Identification Fundfor Proposition 69.
Proposition 69 established a guaranteed funding source for costs associated with the collection, verification, and/or management of DNA evidence and/or samples. In addition, the statute provided for each county to determine the methodology or eligibility criteria for the disbursement of their funds. An established Proposition 69 Committee administers funding received by the County of Orange. The Committee is comprised of representatives from the County Executive Office, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Probation Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Orange County Crime Lab, and two local police chiefs.
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Contact:
Public Affairs Manager Roxi Fyad
CMPD
[email protected]
