BJA FY24 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program

The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Criminalistics Laboratory (Crime Lab) is the agency that is responsible for analyzing evidential material associated with criminal investigations for local law enforcement agencies. The SFPD has one criminalistics laboratory that primarily services the city and county of SFPD, the Sheriff's Department, and other local law enforcement agencies operating within the city and county of San Francisco (e.g., U.S. Park Police, California Highway Patrol San Francisco Office, local Federal Bureau of Investigations and Drug Enforcement Agency branches, etc.).

The SFPD Crime Lab is facing ongoing budgetary constraints related to its operational budget for laboratory instrumentation, training, and new positions. The federal funding from this award will be used for required continuing education for laboratory criminalists, providing salary support for two laboratory technician positions, and purchasing upgraded Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) software.

The SFPD Crime Lab can expect to reduce the DNA backlog by increasing efficiency and lowering the case turnaround time. By the end of this award period, the turn-around time is expected to be 30 days or less.