FY24 DNA CEBR - Massachusetts State Police

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory (MSPCL) Forensic Biology Section is requesting funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the FY24 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program.

The MSPCL will utilize funds from this program to allow more analysts the opportunity to attend national and regional conferences outside the Commonwealth and to fulfill the mandated eight hours of training required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Quality Assurance Guidelines; to purchase new equipment, reagents and supplies necessary to improve and support the section’s current methods, ensure continued compliance with national standards, and increase overall casework capacity; and to support outsourcing cases to external vendor laboratories for screening and DNA analysis for backlog casework to be completed while maintaining the MSPCL’s current workload. 

Funds for on-site and virtual training are also being requested to ensure continuing education opportunities are available for all analysts and allow the MSPCL to tailor the topics to current and/or new methods and technologies.

The MSPCL aims to improve capacity, reduce casework backlog, and enter DNA profiles into Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Funds provided through this program will help support the MSPCL’s continued goals to increase the DNA capacity of the forensic biology section, reduce the casework backlog, and improve the turnaround time of forensic biology cases while maintaining compliance with national standards.

The beneficiaries of this grant are Massachusetts local and state law enforcement officers and the justice system along with crime victims as each forensic biology case completed will assist in the pursuit of justice by generating investigative leads through the CODIS and forensic DNA support for case prosecution and this provides answers for crime victims and their families.