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Sheriff’s office cleared to buy upgraded evidence software; annual federal equitable-sharing report filed
Summary
The county approved the sheriff’s request to purchase upgraded evidence-extraction software and related equipment using locally forfeited funds; commissioners also approved the annual equitable-sharing certification and a small state grant for offender registry support.
The Commissioners of Saint Mary’s County on July 22 approved the sheriff’s request to purchase upgraded evidence-extraction software and additional equipment for investigative purposes using locally forfeited funds.
Sheriff’s office representatives said the upgrade will add capacity and remove a current bottleneck in digital evidence processing; staff noted the upgrade carries an annual recurring increase of $24,065 beginning in fiscal year 2027. The equipment purchase is a one-time request paid from locally forfeited funds, and commissioners approved a related budget amendment to realign accounts within the project.
During the same meeting the board approved the sheriff’s annual equitable-sharing agreement and certification for fiscal year 2025. The sheriff’s office reported receiving $4,777.50 in federally forfeited funds for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025; there were no federal equitable-sharing expenditures in FY25.
Commissioners also voted to accept a FY26 state grant covering administrative support for offender registry clerical duties. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services award allocates $12,772 to Saint Mary’s County for registry administration; no local match was required. Sheriff’s staff said the county’s registry count was 132 as of the prior day, with most registrants classified as tier 3 (lifetime) offenders.
