Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $142,647)
The Center for Forensic Sciences - Forensic Laboratories, a bureau organizationally located within the Onondaga County Health Department; include the disciplines of Latent Prints, Forensic Biology/DNA, Controlled Substances, Fire Debris, Firearms, and Digital Evidence. Law enforcement agencies throughout the County submit evidence for analysis and testimony is provided as necessary. The Forensic Biology/DNA section consists of four casework analysts and one casework supervisor.
The Forensic Laboratories will create and fill the position of DNA Validation Specialist within the Forensic Biology/DNA Section for the purposes of performing validation studies on new analytical instrumentation, software, and laboratory methods. This will enable the analysts to focus on performing casework analysis and will bring newer technologies and methods to the section in a more timely fashion.
The Forensic Biology/DNA Section will also use this award to fund overtime hours for analysts to increase throughput by increasing total bench hours. Additionally, the grant will provide funding for the supplies used by analysts working on those overtime hours. It is expected that the analysts will work at least 62 cases with the supply and overtime funding from this award. Grant funds will be used to purchase mandated proficiency tests and to send casework analysts to national conferences/symposia, both to meet accreditation requirements.
The funding from this grant will enable the Forensic Biology section to complete its plan to increase case throughput (capacity) and improve the quality of analysis, while maintaining or reducing case backlog.
nca/ncf