Violent Crime Clearance Rate Amendments

New grants help police investigate violent crimes

Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah creates a fund to help law enforcement agencies improve violent-crime clearance rates. The law provides $250,000 from the fund for fiscal year 2027, July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice runs the fund upon legislative appropriation and can retain up to 3% for administration. Of the remaining money, 85% goes to competitive grants and 15% goes randomly to applicants without a competitive award. At least 10% of competitive grant money goes to agencies serving only rural communities. Grants can pay for hiring, retaining, and training investigators; evidence collection and forensic testing; crime analysis; equipment; witness support; and policies to improve clearance rates. The Commission must set eligibility, application, review, award-size, and reporting rules. The fund accepts donations, grants, gifts, bequests, other available money, and interest; unused money carries forward rather than expiring. Clearance rates measure the share of reported violent felonies cleared through arrest, charges, and court referral, or through qualifying exceptional cases where outside factors prevent arrest and prosecution.