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

The two DNA forensic laboratories in the state of Nevada, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), have mutually agreed to split the BJA FY24 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program grant funds.

The LVMPD, Criminalistics Bureau, Forensic Laboratory Biology/DNA Detail is faced with budgetary constraints and case backlogs. The requested federal funding is needed for LVMPD to reduce the backlog of biology/DNA cases and decrease case turnaround time. Overtime funds will be used to reimburse costs for forensic scientists who process and review DNA cases in-house. Funds will assist the Biology/DNA Detail to purchase three EZ2 extraction robots and power supplies, a TissueLyser III for bone pulverization, and to ensure accurate laboratory capabilities through semi-annual pipette calibration and instrument/software maintenance. The grant will aid the agency in fulfilling the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Quality Assurance Standards DNA continuing education requirements by sending DNA staff to conferences.

LVMPD’s Biology/DNA Detail expects to process at least 130 cases in-house with federal funded overtime. By utilizing overtime, processing cases in-house will reduce the overall backlog of LVMPD DNA cases, with the goal of reducing case turnaround time by 30 days. This should also increase the capacity of the Biology/DNA Detail by an average of five samples per forensic scientist per month. Grants funds will benefit the LVMPD Forensic Laboratory by increasing the turnaround time and will give law enforcement investigators the advantage of finding suspects in a more expeditious manner to stop the perpetrator from reoffending in the community.

The intended beneficiaries of the LVMPD Forensic Laboratory Biology/DNA Detail, the only accredited publicly funded lab for law enforcement agencies in southern Nevada, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY24 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program include police agencies and citizens located in Clark County, Esmeralda County, Lincoln County, and Nye County, Nevada.