Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2021, $288,450)
The Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory (PCFL) performs DNA analyses of evidentiary materials for law enforcement agencies operating in Pinellas County, Florida and for the District Six Medical Examiner which serves Pinellas and Pasco Counties. DNA analysis requests are accepted for both violent and non-violent crimes. The lab has had considerable success with developing CODIS eligible profiles from non-violent crimes (i.e. residential burglaries, auto thefts, etc).
In order to maintain or improve laboratory metrics and to meet the stated goals of improving capacity and decreasing or maintaining turn around time and minimal backlogs with an every increasing caseload, PCFL will use 2021 DNA CEBR funds to 1) continue to fund 1.5 DNA analysts (currently funded on the 2020 DNA CEBR) to perform casework activities including analysis, reporting, technical reviews, and testimony 2) fund DNA test kits (extraction, quantitation, amplification) for the funded analysts and 2) address procedural bottlenecks by acquiring additional equipment for use in sample preparation and contamination control.