DC DFS FY22 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction

The District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) is the Cabinet-level agency responsible for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Crime Scene Sciences (CSS), and Public Health Laboratory (PHL) services in the District of Columbia.  Within the FSL, the Forensic Biology Unit (FBU) processes and performs serological and DNA testing on items of evidence associated with criminal investigations.  The DFS FBU is a NDIS-participating laboratory.  The federal funding from the FY22 Capacity Enhancement Program for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program will be used for the goal of reducing the backlog of forensic biology cases by maintaining contracts to outsource casework, as in-house casework and CODIS backlog reduction are performed by FBU scientists.  The DFS plans to use the grant award to fund outsourcing of at least 285 backlogged cases to private, accredited DNA vendor laboratories. This will help to reduce the backlog of case submissions and supplement in-house output as casework continues in FY25.  Overall, this utilization of funding will serve the District of Columbia and its’ residents through the enhancement of public safety and resolution of criminal investigations in a more timely, efficient manner.