Relates to establishing the unsolved homicide grant program

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the unsolved homicide grant program; and making an appropriation therefor

Purpose

To allocate funding to police departments and precincts for the purpose of solving unsolved homicides.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends the executive law by adding a new section 233 providing for the establishment of the Unsolved Homicide Grant Program. No more than ten police departments and precincts may be granted up to one million dollars each for the sole purpose of solving unsolved homicides.

The grant application shall be created and managed by the State Police, and any interested police department shall submit the application by December 1 of each year. The application shall include, but not be limited to: the total number of people served by the department, the total number of unsolved homicides in the department's jurisdiction, the number of unsolved homicides in the department's jurisdiction that occurred during the previous calendar year, the current funding available to the department for the purpose of solving homicides, the department's current staffing level for solving homicides, how such grant funding will be utilized and any other information deemed necessary to make a fair determination.

For New York City, the NYPD may submit one application for the department including data on each precinct they would like to allocate such funding to. Once granted, the NYPD Commissioner shall determine which precincts will receive such funding.

All funding shall be distributed by January 1 of each year directly following the December 1 application deadline. No police department (outside New York City) or precinct shall receive more than one million dollars under this program each calendar year.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services shall administer funding of any State Police department outside New York City.

All police departments or precincts who receive such funding shall provide a report to the Division of State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the NYPD, if applicable, one year after receiving such funding. Such report shall include how such funding was used and the number of homicides solved over the course of the previous year.

Section 2 appropriates a sum of $10,000,000, or so much thereof may be necessary, to the Unsolved Homicide Grant Program from the general fund.

Section 3 provides the effective date.

Existing law

This is a new law.

Justification

Nothing can fully heal the pain family members and loved ones of homicide victims endure for the rest of their lives, but the closest they may come is justice. Unfortunately, too many homicides remain unsolved. According to a 2015 NPR report, the national clearance rate for homicides is only 64 percent. Staggeringly, that number refers not to convictions, but to all cases ending with an arrest.

Aside from depriving victims of closure, the abundance of unsolved homicides means murderers who may kill again remain at large. It is a compelling interest of the state to allocate resources for the purpose of solving unsolved homicides.

Legislative history

New bill

Fiscal implications

$10,000,000 appropriation, or so much thereof may be necessary.

Local fiscal implications

No cost to localities.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed by the superintendent of state police on or before such effective date.