BJA FY 24 Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program.

The Vermont Forensic Laboratory (VFL) is responsible for providing DNA analysis of evidentiary material associated with criminal investigations for all state and local law enforcement agencies and medical examiners within the state of Vermont. The VFL is the only forensic laboratory performing DNA analysis in Vermont. The Statutes of Vermont designate the VFL as the agency responsible for conducting analysis on DNA samples collected from all convicted felons and some misdemeanor offenders in the state of Vermont; the VFL is responsible for storing and maintaining the resultant profiles in the Vermont DNA Data Bank, and uploading qualifying samples to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).

In recent years, the VFL has faced staffing and budgetary constraints. This has placed a burden on both the database and case working sections to maximize workloads. The laboratory hopes to continue the employment of a grant-funded analyst position. At the present time there are no state funded positions available to fund that position. The federal funding from this award will assist in giving analysts more time and supplies to process casework and database samples and review the resulting work. This award will be specifically used for the following goals: process crime scene samples for CODIS entry; process database samples for CODIS entry; and increase capacity to process crime scene samples for CODIS entry.

The VFL expects to analyze at least 100 forensic cases over the period of the grant funding through the efforts of the qualified grant funded analyst as well as 250 cases worked on an overtime basis and/or with supplies purchased with grant funds. In addition, the VFL anticipates processing at least 1,000 DNA database samples using a combination of overtime and supplies purchased with grant funds.

Training funds will allow individuals to attend the professional conferences. These opportunities provide means to stay current in the technologies and policies that impact the work of the laboratory.

Additional funding will be used to purchase an automated microscope and pursue contracts pertaining to annual maintenance of the laboratory information management system, support of the temperature monitoring system, annual preventative maintenance of many DNA instruments/software, and accreditation.