Maryland Department of State Police FY 23 DNA Backlog Program

The Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division (MSP-FSD) requests funds
under the 2023 DNA Backlog Reduction Program with the goal of maintaining a low
backlog of cases/reduce existing backlogs and prevent future backlog build up while
at the same time sustain/improve turnaround time. In return this leads to more
casework being done in a timely fashion and more CODIS profiles being generated.
MSP-FSD has been very successful in the implementation of a long-term project to
control, significantly reduce and consistently maintain a low and manageable DNA
casework backlog. This project is based on an approach that combines the use of in-
house outsourcing and agency direct outsourcing of casework as well as a tier
approach and other streamlining techniques to improve the in-house operations.
MSP-FSD's goal is to keep utilizing these techniques and therefore the requested
funds are geared towards continuing this proven to be successful methods of
addressing the casework backlog and therefore efficiently processing cases and
therefore generating any CODIS suitable profiles for entry into the system.
The federal funding from this award will be used for the following specific goals:
Goal 1: Control the backlog of forensic biology/DNA cases by outsourcing.
Goal 2: Maintain current laboratory capabilities and improve operations
Goal 3. Provide required continuing education
MSP-FSD expects to analyze by outsourcing 262 DNA cases and continue to
maintain a backlog of 200 case or less.