FY 2022 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR)

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Forensic Laboratory, Biology/DNA[1] Detail, is faced with budgetary constraints and case backlogs.  The requested federal funding from the FY 22 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR) program in the amount of $771,669[2] is needed for LVMPD to accomplish the following goals:

Reduce the backlog of Biology/DNA cases, increase number of profiles entered into CODIS, and decrease case turnaround time through the use of overtime funds for forensic scientists to process and review DNA cases in-house
Ensure accurate laboratory capabilities of the Biology/DNA Detail through semi-annual pipette calibration and instrument maintenance
Increase the Biology/DNA Details long-term capacity through implementation of a DNA LIMS Module for sample tracking during laboratory processing
Fulfill the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Quality Assurance Standards DNA continuing education requirements by sending DNA staff to conferences

LVMPD’s Biology/DNA Detail expects to process at least 180 cases in-house with federally funded overtime.  By utilizing overtime, processing cases in-house will reduce the overall backlog of LVMPD DNA cases, with the goal of reducing case turnaround time by 30 days. Implementation of a DNA LIMS Module should increase the capacity of the Biology/DNA Detail by an average of five samples per forensic scientist per month.  Grants funds will not only benefit the LVMPD Forensic Laboratory by decreasing the turnaround time but will also give law enforcement investigators the advantage of finding suspects in a more expeditious manner to stop the perpetrator from reoffending in the community.

The areas affected by the FY 22 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction project include:

Clark County
Esmeralda County
Lincoln County
Nye County

[1] Deoxyribonucleic acid

[2] LVMPD is requesting $632,831 (primary amount) and $138,838 (secondary amount)