Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2023, $250,000)
The Colorado Springs Metro Crime Laboratory (MCL) provides forensic science services to law enforcement agencies in El Paso County (Colorado), primarily serving the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Continuation funding for personnel costs is requested for two full-time (FT) grant funded DNA Analyst positions and one .75 FTE grant funded position to enhance current capacity. Moving the part-time DNA Analyst to .75 FT will allow the MCL’s DNA Unit a small increase in its capacity to process more DNA samples. Supporting these three positions with CEBR grant funding is critical to ensure DNA analysis is done and to increase the capacity to process more DNA samples for entry into CODIS.
In addition, funding is requested for attendance at the mandatory forensic workshops during the grant period (2024 and 2025) for two key personnel from the MCL. The workshops will focus on valuable information related to the elements of a successful project and key issues impacting forensic DNA processing.
The proposed grant request will allow the MCL’s DNA Unit to increase the current capacity to conduct DNA analysis. This request will address the goals of the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program, which is to help eligible States and units of local government to increase laboratory capacity and reduce backlog of forensic and database DNA samples.