Expansion of DNA Databases to assist with Sexual Assaults Investigations and Prosecutions

The Arkansas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY24 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative under Purpose Area 3 to continue the collection of lawfully owed DNA samples from convicted offenders and arrestees not previously collected. Once collected and submitted for testing, the DNA samples will be processed and uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL), entity Division of DPS.

In partnership with Arkansas Crime Information Center and Arkansas Division of Correction a census of convicted offenders and arrestees has been created and maintained with regular updates to allow the ASCL to identify those individuals that have not had a lawfully owed DNA sample collected, submitted, and/or uploaded into the CODIS database.

Based on the success of current FY22 Sexual Assault Kit Initiative funded efforts to request collection and submission of samples from incarcerated and/or supervised individuals on the list of lawfully owed DNA samples, DPS is seeking funds to continue the ongoing census review to identify and collect from eligible individuals across the community. DPS will use this funding opportunity to facilitate the collection of lawfully owed DNA for submission into CODIS to solve cases and provide justice to survivors of sexual assault.