Attorney General Becerra Announces New Grant to Help Law Enforcement Submit and Test Sexual Assault Evidence

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced a new grant program that provides funds to local law enforcement agencies to help with the submission and testing of sexual assault evidence. A total of $2 million is available to facilitate the grant program.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. That should never haunt a survivor of sexual violence,” said Attorney General Becerra. “This grant will help our law enforcement partners across the state secure resources they need to submit sexual assault evidence for testing. We all have to work together to get this done, to bring justice to victims of sexual assault. I encourage leaders across the state to join us in this effort by applying now for this grant.”

Last year, the Legislature appropriated $2 million in the state budget for grants to ensure that law enforcement agencies submit sexual assault evidence for testing. Any local law enforcement agency within the State of California is eligible to apply for funds under this grant for the submission and testing of sexual assault evidence. Grant funds are designed to supplement existing efforts in order to help meet short-term testing and submission goals. Each agency that receives a grant will be required to report the total number of sexual assault cases tested or submitted for testing. For the current grant program, local law enforcement agencies must submit applications to the California Department of Justice by June 1, 2020. Law enforcement agencies are required to use the funds by June 30, 2022.

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