FY2024 Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program for Utah Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Forensic Services

The mission of the Utah Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Forensic Services (UBFS) is to provide a safe and secure environment for the citizens of Utah through the application of forensic science. The goal of the forensic biology section is to provide quality and impartial forensic biological analysis in a prompt manner. The laboratory provides accurate and sound science during forensic biology and DNA analysis, while striving to maintain a rapid response to analysis requests.

UBFS maintains three laboratories throughout the State of Utah: Central, Northern, and Southern laboratories. Both the Central and Southern laboratories house biology sections and are responsible for analyzing and processing forensic DNA samples. Only the Central laboratory stores, accessions, analyzes, and maintains all DNA databasing samples for the state. UBFS strives to implement new and innovative ways to process case and databasing samples and provide information on the analysis of these samples to public safety agencies throughout Utah.

UBFS continues to see an increase in databasing sample submissions and recently (April 2024) brought databasing sample analysis in-house in order to facilitate a shorter turnaround time from submission to upload into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database. While UBFS has implemented a Laboratory Information Management System for casework, the system is not built to function effectively for databasing. For tracking of databasing samples (submission date, status, and turnaround time metrics) UBFS uses a series of Excel spreadsheets and continues to store and record much of the information regarding each sample on paper. Based on a risk assessment approach, the use of a more automated, traceable, and searchable system, built for purpose, is needed.

The funding from this award will be used to purchase, implement, and maintain a new a Laboratory Information Management System module specifically intended for the UBFS CODIS Unit to improve the capacity, quality, and efficiency of processing offender samples for entry into CODIS and for administering CODIS hits.

UBFS works to continue to reduce forensic and databasing sample turnaround times and continues to make improvements and strategize to use the CEBR program funds to help reach our goals.