BJA FY 23 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction [CEBR] Program

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department [SLMPD] Crime Laboratory has a backlog of cases at the DNA analysis level that could be partially alleviated by hiring 3 full-time DNA analysts and funding overtime for all grant and department funded, fully trained analysts.  The SLMPD Lab is requesting $349,371 from the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program FY 2023, which is the amount allocated to them from the total allocation to the State of Missouri.  The overall goals and objectives of this program will be to reduce the number of untested forensic casework samples, to enter eligible profiles into CODIS and obtain hits, and to prosecute the suspects.  This will accomplished by hiring three full-time grant-funded employees.  All new hires will undergo training at the laboratory.  By hiring additional employees, it is expected that at least 349 cases will undergo DNA analysis and, where appropriate, upload of eligible profiles into CODIS when obtained, and suspects prosecuted when possible.