Long Beach JAG 2023

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) proposes to use JAG funds for a full-time DNA trained Senior Criminalist (DNA Criminalist) provided by a partnership with the County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD). The purpose of the project is to alleviate the exacerbated backlogged case management system, and to complete the LBPD’s DNA cases in an expeditious manner, with all relevant work performed in the LASD’s Scientific Services Bureau Crime Laboratory. The DNA Criminalist will provide the service to fulfill required practices, which include courtroom testimony, reagent preparation, analyst proficiency testing and other quality assurance measures for the LBPD. Expected outcomes include to perform DNA analysis in support of criminal investigations involving sexual assaults, homicides, and other violent crimes, and to increase the number of samples tested, thereby increasing the identification of suspects and successful prosecutions. The entire population in the LBPD jurisdiction is the intended beneficiary of the project.