FY23 Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) program for DNA laboratories.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Laboratory (Iowa DCI Crime Lab) is the agency that is responsible for analyzing evidential material that is associated with criminal investigations for all state and local law enforcement agencies within the state of Iowa.  The Code of the State of Iowa designates the Iowa DCI crime lab as the agency responsible for conducting DNA analysis on DNA samples collected from crime scenes as well as DNA samples collected from all individuals convicted of a felony, certain aggravated misdemeanors, and sexual offenses within the State of Iowa. The Iowa DCI crime lab is a single laboratory system that serves the entire State of Iowa.  

If awarded under the 2023 DNA CEBR program the primary purpose of the Iowa DCI Crime Laboratory in using these funds would be to increase the number of CODIS eligible samples developed by our DNA case working and DNA databasing laboratories. With these funds we would like to fund four employees and overtime. We would like to purchase equipment to enhance and update our current operations as well as a purchase a validation for our DNA 3500 Genetic Analyzer instrument software, as well as a new CODIS server.

The Federal funding from this award will be used to reduce the backlog and increase capacity of forensic biology/DNA cases and to reduce the backlog and increase capacity and capability in the Databasing section. We expect this funding to increase our laboratory’s submission of DNA profiles into CODIS and benefit the citizens of the State of Iowa with enhanced capabilities and turn around times from our Crime Laboratory.