Boston Police Department FY21 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR)Program

Project Abstract

As part of the Boston Police Departments (BPD) Crime Laboratory’s overall plan to meet its goals and objectives outlined in this application, it is critical for the lab to continue utilizing the funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the purpose of supporting the work being done by the Criminalistics criminalist and the DNA criminalist positions, as well as overtime work being done by full-time criminalists, thus allowing us to meet the caseload demands in 2022 through 2024 and work to further reduce the backlog of cases.

The ability of the department to maintain these positions, and offer overtime hours to full-time positions, will aid the BPD in achieving the goals of this program, including reducing the backlog of forensic biology cases, maintaining high-quality forensic services, and increasing the capacity of the lab.

Utilizing these funds to purchase DNA testing supplies for trained and caseworking analysts' use in the laboratory will also assist with backlog reduction by allowing analysts to maintain top productivity levels by working in a fully supplied laboratory.  Access to these supplies ensures that the maximum productivity can be maintained, thereby allowing the analysts every opportunity to continue to reduce the backlog.

The BPD plans to utilize the funds made available through this application to further support the growing demands of the accreditation-mandated continuing education needs of the DNA support staff by providing reimbursement for costs associated with registration and travel to specifically identified relevant DNA trainings.