BJA FY 22 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program grant for the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department, OC Crime Lab

Funds from this grant will be used to address three main goals and associated objectives:

To reduce the backlog of unanalyzed forensic DNA cases by analyzing a minimum of 300 backlogged violent and non-violent crime DNA cases using grant funded overtime.
To provide DNA Advisory Board (DAB) required continuing education training for fourteen DNA analysts by attending professional conferences and statistical analysis training on probabilistic genotyping.
To upgrade aging alternate light sources used in the search of body fluids on items of evidence in the laboratory and in the field.

By using the FY 22 DNA CEBR program grant funds for the above goals, the Orange County Crime Laboratory (OCCL) will be able to reduce the backlog and increase the laboratory capacity in the DNA Bureau.  Grant funded overtime will help reduce the backlog of violent and non-violent crime casework by allowing analysts to work overtime hours to perform laboratory analysis and the interpretation of DNA results.  This will provide more timely results which can be better utilized by law enforcement and district attorney personnel.  Continuing education funded by the grant will provide DNA analysts the opportunity to learn about new technology and instrumentation for purchase and implementation within the laboratory as well as current trends and issues in the field of forensic DNA analysis.  This provided training will satisfy the yearly DAB’s requirement for continuing education of fourteen DNA analysts.  The replacement of aging alternate light sources will improve the DNA Bureau’s ability to quickly locate and document potential probative DNA which will increase laboratory efficiency and reduce turnaround times.