FY 2016 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program - City of Mesa Forensic Services

Mesa Forensic Services is located at 133 N. Morris, Mesa, Arizona. Forensic Services is responsible for the collection and examination of evidence from all types of crimes committed within this community of over 464,000 residents, which is the 38th largest city in the United States. Forensic Services is composed of ten units. The Toxicology, Firearms, Biology, Controlled Substances, Crime Scene, Evidence processing, Latent Print and Quality Assurance Units are accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB - Certificate #ALI-386-T). The Mesa Forensic Services Biology Unit, consisting of 7 employees is responsible for processing biological evidence from homicides, sexual assaults, burglaries and numerous other crimes. During 2015, members of the unit processed over 3500 samples and prepared over 1800 reports regarding their scientific analyses. The laboratory is a National DNA Index System (NDIS) participant. The Mesa Forensic Services Biology Unit participates in external audits, not less than once every two years, to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Quality Assurance Standards established by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The most recent external audits were performed February 9-12, 2015, October 21-22, 2013, August 29, 2011 and May 3-May 6, 2010. The current (2015) overall average turnaround time for DNA reports is 148 days, with violent crime being 78 days and nonviolent crime being 203 days. The current (2015) average number of forensic DNA samples analyzed per analyst per month is 52. The number of untested/not completed forensic biology/DNA cases on hand on December 31, 2015 was 81. The laboratory intends to increase capacity using existing personnel. Federal funding from this award will be used for the following goals: 1. Reduce the backlog of forensic biology/DNA cases and an anticipated backlog or outsourced data for review associated with a separate non-federally funded project. 2. Increase the capacity of the Mesa Police Department Forensic Services Biology Unit by obtaining an 8 capillary CE instrument. It is estimated that a minimum of 20 forensic DNA cases can be analyzed and data from a minimum of 50 outsourced cases and be reviewed within the 24-month award project period using the Federal funding requested under this FY2016 program. The laboratory expects to reduce the average turnaround time and backlog by 10%. The average turnaround time would be reduced to approximately 133 days and the backlog would be reduced to approximately 73. nca/ncf