Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2023, $650,000)
Program Narrative
Agency Description
The Montana Department of Justice, Forensic Science Division (MT DOJ FSD) is the agency responsible for analyzing evidence associated with criminal investigations for all state and local law enforcement agencies and medical examiners within the State of Montana. The MT DOJ FSD is internationally accredited through ANAB.
Montana Code Annotated 44-6-102 designates the MT DOJ FSD Laboratory to conduct analysis of DNA database samples collected from all convicted felons. Eligible DNA profiles are entered into CODIS and, if applicable, NDIS.
MCA 44-6-102 includes:
Montana Code Annotated 2021
TITLE 44. LAW ENFORCEMENT
CHAPTER 6. DNA RECORDS
Part 1. DNA Index
Establishment Of Dna Identification Index
44-6-102. Establishment of DNA identification index. (1) The department shall establish a computerized DNA identification index for the receipt, storage, and exchange of DNA records. The DNA identification index is the central repository for DNA records in the state of Montana.
(2) The DNA identification index must include:
(a) DNA records for an individual convicted of a felony offense or a youth found under 41-5-1502 to have committed a sexual or violent offense;
(b) DNA records for a person upon order of a sentencing judge under 46-18-202; and
(c) analyses of DNA samples recovered from crime scenes, medical examinations, and unidentified human remains. For purposes of identification of missing persons, the DNA identification index may include DNA records of close biological relatives of a missing person.
(3) The DNA identification index and the DNA testing done by a forensic DNA laboratory must be compatible with the systems of DNA identification used by other criminal justice agencies or private testing laboratories to the extent necessary to permit the exchange of DNA information.
(4) The DNA records collected and stored in the DNA identification index may contain only information relating to the identification of individuals. Information that identifies a person that is the subject of a record must be limited to the information that is necessary to pursue criminal investigations and to support statistical interpretation of results.
(5) The DNA identification index may be used:
(a) by law enforcement agencies for purposes of identification in the course of criminal investigations and proceedings;
(b) to assist in the identification of human remains, including identification of missing persons; and
(c) if information allowing a person to be identified is removed, for a population statistics database and for identification, research, and protocol development for forensic DNA analysis and quality control.
Our laboratory follows NDIS DNA Acceptance Standards for all profiles and DNA analysis abides by applicable federal privacy requirements. Our most recent external QAS audit was conducted in September 2021, and the review of the audit and confirmation of compliance was approved by the FBI in a letter dated June 1, 2022.
Description of Issue
DNA casework at the Montana Department of Justice, Forensic Science Division, continues to be overwhelming. Casework requests for our laboratory have increased 80% and samples for analysis have more than doubled over the past 10 years.
The Montana State legislature passed legislation in 2019 to make Montana an “All Kit State” for sex assaults. All approved sex assault evidence kits are being submitted for analysis. Sex Assault casework has doubled over the 6 years since the SAKI initiative.
SAKI initiative tested previously unsubmitted SA kits
Project Design and Implementation
We implemented Y-screening at the end of 2019 with two grant-funded lab technicians for the purpose of creating a more efficient workflow for sex assault cases. Due to our small laboratory size, our limited personnel resources, and increasing casework, we converted the lab technicians to full analysts in mid-2021. This allows us more resilience and alleviates potential bottlenecks by having the ability to shift duties as needed with more cross-trained employees. This added flexibility is helping us further reduce our backlog by increasing available staff that can perform multiple aspects of the analysis process. In early 2022 we added Y-STR analysis to our processes. The grant-funded analysts are fundamental to the success of this program. Our goal is to continue to fund these positions through this DNA CEBR grant from October 2024 through September 2025 to meet our targets of a 10% reduction in backlog volume and 10% improvement in case turn-around.
The funding of a part-time Serology/DNA analyst directly improves the backlog of cases and improves turn-around time for DNA analysis by providing an additional resource for analysis, interpretation, reporting, and peer review. This position would be funded on this grant from October 2024 through September 2025, during which approximately 80 cases will be processed by the analyst.
With the addition of the differential extraction process on our Hamilton STARlet, we are adjusting our workflows for more effective throughput. The addition of a Maxwell RSC 48 robot for the purification portion of our extraction process will allow for non-typical extractions and serve as a backup for the STARlet during repairs and maintenance.
Due to the case volume we are experiencing and the additional increases from SAKI-related State legislation changes, additional reagents and supplies are required to provide the forensic analysis and prevent delays. The automated differential extractions and RSC 48 robot also require consumables. These supplies would be purchased in fall of 2024 and 2025.
Our Hamilton Autolys robot purchased in 2018 with funding from the FY16 DNA CEBR grant needs annual preventative maintenance service. This service is scheduled for early 2025. We also acquired a second Qiacube instrument in 2021 and we are requesting funds for annual maintenance in 2025.
Due to staff turnover and project implementations, our case backlog has been negatively affected. We are requesting funding to outsource DNA analysis for selected sex assault cases.
We provide collection kits for convicted offenders for entry into the CODIS system. We receive approximately 3000 per year (during non-pandemic years), and these kits would be purchased in 2025.
To recap, our objectives for this grant proposal are:
To improve the efficiency of processing sex assault cases and add resilience in our small laboratory by continuing to fund two forensic analysts able to perform serology and DNA analysis functions.
To improve backlog and analysis turn-around times by funding a part-time DNA analyst.
Provide reagents and supplies to accommodate the increases in DNA casework and differential extractions.
Fund preventative maintenance for our most recently purchased Hamilton robot and our second Qiacube instrument.
Purchase a Maxwell RSC 48 robot for the extraction process.
Outsource selected sex assault cases for DNA analysis to improve backlog.
Purchase CODIS convicted offender collection kits.
Capabilities and Competencies
The current members of the DNA laboratory at our facility who will be involved in making this proposal a success are:
Jamie Bray-Tanner
DNA Supervisor
DNA Supervisor February 2024-present
DNA Analyst December 2013-present
Serologist April 2006-present
Megan Ashton
Technical Leader/CODIS Administrator
Technical Leader November 2024-present
DNA Analyst/CODIS Administrator October 2003-present
Andrew Bishop
Lead DNA Analyst
DNA Analyst June 2020-present
Serologist October 2013-present
Lacey VanGrinsven
Lead Serologist
Serologist April 2006-present
Jen Revis-Siegfried
Part-Time DNA Analyst (Grant-funded)
DNA Analyst December 2017-present
Kathryn Kulgavyy
Serologist/DNA Lab Tech (Grant-funded)
DNA Lab Tech December 2018-present
Serologist May 2021-present
Stephen Antonich
DNA Analyst
DNA Analyst December 2021-present
Haley Fallang
DNA Analyst
DNA Analyst December 2022-present
Kendra Henning
Serologist/DNA Lab Tech (Grant-funded)
Lab Tech February 2020-present
Serologist January 2022-present
Amy Howls
DNA Analyst Trainee
DNA Analyst May 2024-present
Danielle Klemenko
DNA Analyst Trainee
DNA Analyst October 2023-present
Emily Tuck
DNA Analyst Trainee
DNA Analyst Trainee April 2024-present