Attorney General Becerra Announces New Grant Application Window to Help Cities and Counties Count Untested Victim Sexual Assault Evidence Kits

Monday, March 4, 2019
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

Local government agencies may apply for funding to assist with counting the number of untested victim sexual assault kits in their possession

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced a new application window for a grant program that provides funds to cities and counties to help conduct audits of their untested victim sexual assault evidence kits. Untested Sexual Assault Evidence Grants are intended to assist in determining the number of untested victim sexual assault evidence kits throughout California.

“Survivors of sexual assault deserve access to resources that will help bring them justice,” said Attorney General Becerra. “My office is supporting that effort through this grant program to help communities accurately count the number of untested sexual assault kits in their possession. We encourage leaders across our state to join us and take advantage of this important program.”

Last year, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 3118 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco), requiring every law enforcement agency, medical facility, crime laboratory, and other specified facilities, to conduct an audit of all untested victim sexual assault evidence kits in their possession and report to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) no later than July 1, 2019. DOJ is then required to report the results of the audit to the legislature. Earlier in 2018, DOJ was allocated $1 million through the state budget for grants available to cities and counties to count the number of untested sexual assault victim evidence kits in their possession. Nearly $800,000 remain available.

Local government agencies must submit applications to the DOJ by March 29, 2019. We encourage all cities and counties to apply. Preference will be given to those who have not yet received grant funding under this program.

Additional information on application requirements and eligibility criteria is available at: https://oag.ca.gov/usaeg.

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