BJA FY24 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Crime Laboratory  has a backlog of cases at the DNA analysis level that could be partially alleviated by hiring two full-time DNA analysts and funding overtime for all grant and department funded, fully trained analysts. The department is requesting funding from the FY24 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program, which is the amount allocated to them from the total allocation to the state of Missouri. The overall goals and objectives of this program will be to reduce the number of untested forensic casework samples, to enter eligible profiles into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and obtain hits, and to prosecute the suspects. This will be accomplished by hiring two full-time grant funded employees, as well as funding overtime. All will undergo training at the laboratory. By hiring additional employees, it is expected that at least 269 cases will undergo DNA analysis and, where appropriate, upload of eligible profiles into CODIS when obtained, and suspects prosecuted when possible.