Item 23 - Agreement with Forensic Nurse Specialists, Inc.

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i0:I:n:3ifi AGREEMENT BETWEEN FORENSIC NURSE SPECIALISTS, INC AND THE CITY OF SANTA ANA FOR FORENSIC EXAMINATION SERVICES This Agreement for Forensic Examination Services is made and entered into as of the 19th day of December 2023 (the "Effective Date"), by and between FORENSIC NURSE SPECIALISTS, INC ("FNS") a privately owned minority professional corporation, and the City of Santa Ana, a charter city and municipal corporation organized and existing under the Constitution and laws of the State of California ("City"), on behalf of the Santa Ana Police Department ("Department"), with respect to the following: WHEREAS, the Department requires the collection of forensic evidence with respect to victims of sexual assault and other forms of interpersonal violence; WHEREAS, this is a mandatory expense as failure to provide a victim of sexual assault with an examination by a qualified healthcare professional would be a violation of the California Penal Code; WHEREAS, the Department does not have the capability to collect the aforesaid forensic evidence internally; WHEREAS, FNS has specialized training and expertise in the forensic examination services and the Department desires to contract such services from FNS; WHEREAS, FNS is the sole source providing this service in Orange County and there are no specific registries that utilizes forensic nurses solely for the purpose of exams; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and conditions contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows: Services FNS agrees to provide the following services ( "Services") to the Department: l .1. Examination. FNS agrees to provide the Department approved forensic -medical exams 24/7 to sexual assault, strangulation, domestic violence, and other types of victims, consistent with the terms of this Agreement as identified by the Department, with a 1- hour response to a mutually agreed upon examination location. The examination will include digital imaging of injuries and physical findings. The examination will be conducted by forensic nurses who are trained and competent in the California State Protocol established by California Office of Emergency Services.("CALOES") 1.2 Evidence All evidence collected during the examination will be packaged, labeled and sealed according to the state and local crime lab requirements and submitted to the on - site evidence storage refrigerator with appropriate chain of custody documentation. Evidence for mobile exams (off -site) or courtesy cases will be relinquished at the conclusion of that examination to the authorizing Department. Digital photographs will be available upon request by Department investigators.