BJA FY22 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program

The Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory (VRCL) was founded mainly to address the demand for DNA testing of evidence recovered from property and financial crimes within the City of Glendale and Burbank. The Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory, accredited in May 2013, has assumed forensic DNA testing of all GPD cases and accepts cases from other regional local and federal law enforcement agencies. In order to address increase demands in DNA testing and the existing DNA backlog, the VRCL Forensic Biology Unit increased its staffing to include two DNA analysts in 2016. Grant funds will be used to add a full time employee to aid in DNA testing/report writing, replace aging equipment and train personnel. The VRCL Forensic Biology Unit will be able to increase sample capacity to reduce the number of backlogged cases by addressing bottle necks within the DNA testing and report writing process.