FY 2016 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program

The Kern County District Attorney’s Office- Forensic Science Division (Kern Regional Crime Laboratory) has demonstrated significant improvements in casework production over the last several years with the help of funds provided by the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Programs. With the implementation of automation and improvements to our LIMS, the laboratory saw the casework production in the DNA Analysis Unit double in the last year with the same number of qualified analysts. However, with the implementation of a “rapid turnaround DNA program” as a result of the passing of California legislation AB1517 and the increase in the number of samples with complex DNA interpretations, the number of cases in the backlog for DNA analysis has remained consistent.
The processes used in the DNA Analysis Unit have become more streamlined and more efficient. Therefore, the only way to improve casework production to the point of reducing the backlog is to train additional DNA analysts. The number of criminalists assigned to the DNA analysis Unit has increased from 5 to 7. However, due to the economy in Kern County, the laboratory is faced with the layoff of criminalists. Due to mandatory Civil Service rules regarding layoffs, the DNA criminalists are the most vulnerable for elimination. The loss of staff within the DNA Unit would jeopardize the laboratory’s ability to reduce the number of cases in the DNA backlog and turnaround time.
In addition, the laboratory interprets the majority of the DNA profiles using probabilistic genotyping (TrueAllele Casework). Due the increase in the number of samples analyzed and the increase in the number of analysts, additional processors are necessary to maximize efficiency of the interpretation step. Interpretation and report writing remains a bottleneck in the DNA analysis process and additional computing processors for TrueAllele will allow the unit to increase the number of samples it can interpret simultaneously, thereby, reducing the turnaround time and reducing the number of cases in the backlog.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office requests to use $201,759.00 in grant funds from the FY 2016 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program for funding salaries and benefits of two full-time DNA Criminalists and the addition of parallel processors for the TrueAllele Casework workstation. nca/ncf