Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2024, $600,000)
The Puerto Rico Institute of Forensic Sciences is an American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and National Association of Medical Examiners accredited, full-service forensic facility that has served the citizens of Puerto Rico since 1985. It is the only forensic laboratory in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It currently counts with four operational divisions: criminalistics, medico-legal investigations, forensic investigations (crime scene investigation), and drug screening and special substances detection. With FY24 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) funding, the Puerto Rico Institute of Forensic Sciences seeks to support the Department of Justice mission of ensuring fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, by conducting DNA analysis and increasing the capacity to process more DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), thus reducing the number of forensic and database DNA samples awaiting analysis reducing backlog.
FY24 DNA CEBR grant resources will be used to increase the capacity to work cases significantly, thus, reducing turnaround time and reducing the number of samples awaiting analysis for both the casework and database sections. Retention of three full-time analysts and the recruitment of a laboratory technician, for the screening, processing, and analysis of DNA evidence samples, will help the DNA and Serology Laboratory process a minimum of 108 cases more than they would have been able to with regular funding streams, helping reduce backlog and increasing capacity of analysis and processing of casework samples. Acquiring computers will help upgrade the CODIS workstations necessary for the installation of the new CODIS software. Funds for the outsourcing of analysis and review of 2,726 database samples will reduce the database backlog by at least 26 percent. Funds for the purchase of buccal collector kits will help increase processing capacity of database samples. Funds requested for the attendance of key grant personnel to the Bureau of Justice Assistance mandatory training, and the attendance of six analysts to conferences, scientific sessions, and workshops for continuing education directly related to the DNA and serology casework and database operation (i.e. Promega and CODIS), will further improve the laboratory’s scientific knowledge and capacity.