Enhancing DNA Capacity at the GBI Division of Forensic Sciences

The GBI Division of Forensic Sciences is responsible for conducting DNA analysis for cases submitted by all state and local law enforcement in the State of Georgia. The major problem faced by the laboratory is insufficient state funding to support a staffing level necessary to address new casework analysis requests within 30 days of case submission.
The goal of this project is to maintain current casework analysis staffing levels within the Forensic Biology discipline. This award will be used to fund salary and benefits for additional casework analysts and technicians hired using prior year Capacity and Backlog Reduction grants. Analysts and technicians have been hired, and training is currently underway. These positions are expected to be retained through grant funding unless a state funded position in Forensic Biology becomes available.
All grant funded personnel will transition onto this award when prior year funding has been exhausted. The number of grant funded personnel supported by the award could vary throughout the course of the award if grant funded personnel are able to transition into a state funded position or resign.
The expected outcomes of this project is the completion of at least 2300 cases by grant funded analysts while they are funded by this award and support of mandatory continuing education of several analysts by funding registration and travel expenses. Analysts will attend the 2017 Bode East meeting, the 2017 ISHI meeting and the 2018 AAFS meeting using funding from this award. nca/ncf