Rhode Island DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction FY24

The Rhode Island Department of Health Forensic Sciences Laboratory (RIDOH-FSL) serves the entire state of Rhode Island, with a population of approximately 1.06 million. Agencies served include state and municipal police, the Office of the State Medical Examiner, Attorney General, and other law enforcement agencies. The laboratory is divided into four sections: drug chemistry, forensic toxicology, breath analysis, and forensic biology/Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The Laboratory is the sole Forensic DNA laboratory, National DNA Index System (NDIS) participant, CODIS site in the state, and casework is submitted by more than 40 stakeholders. Database collections are carried out by RIDOH-FSL staff at the Rhode Island Adult Corrections Institution, and a separate probation collection office. Violent crime arrestee samples are collected by law enforcement personnel. The laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025:2017 standards by American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board, and undergoes external audits every two years as required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s DNA Quality Assurance Standards (QAS).

The federal funding from this award will help achieve the following three goals: reducing the forensic DNA case backlog by funding two full-time Senior Forensic Scientists at 100 percent to process DNA casework; increasing capacity of the laboratory will be accomplished with the purchase of a Qiagen EZ2 Connect Fx; upgrading the DNA portion of the laboratory information management system; and continuing education and training opportunities will also be provided through this funding to comply with FBI’s QAS.

The RIDOH-FSL expects to reduce the DNA casework backlog by at least 125 cases, and to be able to process incoming cases within an average 90-day time frame for non-violent crimes and 30 days for violent crimes, assuming no changes in staff or workload. Making the long-term investment in personnel will increase the overall efficiency of our laboratory, thereby reducing the backlog of DNA casework.