Lawfully Owed DNA in Idaho

The Idaho State Police (ISP) seeks funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), under Purpose Area 3, to collect DNA samples from qualifying convicted offenders from whom a sample has not been previously collected. The DNA samples will also be entered into the COmbined DNA Index System (CODIS) as ISP is charged with the task of CODIS operations in the State of Idaho.

The State CODIS Laboratory in Meridian, Idaho is responsible for receiving, analyzing, and verifying acceptability of submitted samples, including verification of fingerprints on the DNA database cards; developing, entering and storing DNA profiles into a database; and monitoring and enabling access to that database. The ISP is required to provide all the DNA Database sample collection kits to criminal justice or law enforcement agencies in the State, which is required by statute to collect qualifying offender samples at no cost to public agencies. These kits are only for the purpose of collection of offender samples under this statute and not to be used for suspect sample collections in criminal cases. The ISP stores verified DNA samples for match verification and other quality assurance purposes.

The ISP seeks SAKI funds to research, review, improve, and optimize collection protocols to ensure sample collection policies are being adhered to and that samples are being obtained from all eligible individuals for the purpose of CODIS upload, and comparison to the State DNA Index System (SDIS) and National DNA Index System (NDIS). The ISP’s goal is to collect lawfully owed DNA from convicted offenders for submissions into CODIS with hope that they will return hits to generate new investigative information in unsolved cases. The ISP proposes the following strategies to meet this goal:

(1) Conduct a census in partnership with Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) and other law enforcement of qualified individuals from whom a DNA sample was never obtained.

(2) Obtain lawfully owed DNA from sex offenders who have yet to provide a DNA sample to the State of Idaho.

(3) Provide training to IDOC and other collection staff in Idaho and institute continual process evaluation and auditing requirements. 

(4) Provide salary and travel expenses for one full-time ISP Investigator/Detective to serve as the DNA Collection Coordinator to manage grant funded project activities.

(5) Work with statistical analysis and other evaluation staff to ensure that the program is effective and efficient and best practices are reported and implemented.