FY2016 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program - DuPage County Forensic Science Center

The DuPage County Forensic Science Center (DCFSC) is a full-service forensic science laboratory that analyzes evidence items from over 40 law enforcement agencies within DuPage County, Illinois. The DNA Section is an NDIS-participating laboratory and offers DNA analysis utilizing STRs and Y-STRs. Funds in the amount of $180,000 are requested to fund overtime and support staff, provide supplies needed for additional casework, and fund continuing education. In addition, funds are requested to conduct an external audit of the DNA section and purchase new software and hardware required for CODIS and additional genetic analysis software to prevent bottlenecks currently occurring as analysts share the only copy of the GMID-X software.
These objectives will enable the laboratory to increase capacity, decrease turnaround times and maintain a low backlog. Overtime will be used specifically during periods of increased submissions, when it is necessary to prevent a backlog. A quality control contractor will impact capacity and turnaround time by allowing the analysts to focus on cases. The capacity of the laboratory will be increased by purchasing supplies that otherwise might not be possible to purchase, decreasing bottlenecks that occur while waiting for county funds for supplies to become available. Capacity will also be positively impacted by the purchase of additional genetic analysis software. Continuing education will improve the analysts' scientific expertise and enable the laboratory to comply with QAS requirements. The external audit is mandatory, but will ensure that the laboratory is providing quality results that are eligible for upload to NDIS. The new CODIS hardware and software will ensure that the laboratory’s CODIS operations are up to date and compatible with the national CODIS network. Together, these objectives will allow the laboratory to work toward the goal of increasing quality and capacity and reducing the forensic casework turn-around time so that the backlog
can, in turn, be reduced or eliminated. nca/ncf