Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2024, $471,012)
The Denver Police Department (DPD) Crime Laboratory serves the city and county of Denver by using forensic technology to solve crime, thereby increasing public safety. The DPD Crime Laboratory Forensic Biology and DNA Unit seeks federal support to increase the number of forensic samples analyzed by the unit and increase the unit’s capacity to process forensic casework.
The first goal to increase the number of forensic samples analyzed by the unit will be achieved by providing forensic scientists overtime to conduct forensic DNA casework and continuing to fund the employment of two forensic scientists and one subcontractor. The second goal to increase the unit’s capacity will be achieved by continuing the employment of a laboratory technician and an administrative support assistant and purchase instruments to increase laboratory throughput. Additionally, to fulfill Federal Bureau of Investigation Quality Assurance Standards Continuing Education requirements for the unit’s analysts, analysts will be sent to four external conferences.
By implementing these measures, the DPD Crime Laboratory will target a significant backlog of all case types (including property crimes, sexual assaults, and homicides) and comply with national quality assurance standards.