(A) There is hereby created a Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Fund. The funds shall consist of deposits in the form of money from political subdivisions, voluntary surrendered funds from criminal defendants, the sale of voluntary surrendered assets from criminal defendants, donations, reimbursement for law enforcement costs restitution made pursuant to court order, seizure of assets, funds derived from the public sale of seized property in accordance with the provisions of I.C. 34-24-1-1(a), et seq., funds derived from the public sale of seized property in accordance with the United States Department of Justice Seizure Policy, any other funds from the applicable state, local and private grants and other law enforcement fees recovered by or at the direction of the Dearborn County Prosecutor which are not required to be deposited in the County General fund.
(B) The Prosecutors Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Fund shall be appropriated for funding activities recovered by I.C. 34-24-2 et seq. and I.C.34-24-3 et seq. and liquidation of personal and/or real property obtained from criminal defendants.
(C) Seized monies from this fund shall be subject to appropriation requirements in accordance with I.C. 36-2-5-2. All money collected under this section shall be deposited by the County Treasurer, who shall deposit said funds at the direction of the Prosecuting Attorney into a trust account entitled, the Prosecutor's Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Fund. All money collected under this section including any interest from said account shall further be dispersed at the direction of in and in a manner dictated by the Prosecuting Attorney. Any money remaining in the fund at the end of the year shall not revert to any other fund but shall continue in the Prosecutor's Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Fund and shall be utilized totally for law enforcement purposes including but not limited to the purchase of vehicles, equipment, weapons, communications equipment, overtime for law enforcement officers, computer equipment, training of law enforcement officers, expenses for travel related to training, expenses related to investigative operations, money used in undercover operations, cost associated with the construction, expansion, improvement or operation of office space associated with the Special Crimes Unit, costs associated with public education on drug awareness, domestic violence, and other issues related to the prevention of illegal or criminal activity.
(D) Requests for expenditures from the Prosecutor's Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Fund shall be made only by the Prosecutor of Dearborn County subject to formal claim approval by the Dearborn County Council.
(E) There shall be no reversion of the Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Fund or any monies paid into the Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Funds. Funds from the sale of seized property may accumulate in the Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Fund as a non-reverting fund. Special Crimes Unit and Seized Asset Fund should be used exclusively for law enforcement purposes.
(CC Ord. 2006-02, passed 4-6-06)