Minnesota BCA FSS DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Service (BCA FSS) is part of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, providing forensic services to over 500 local law enforcement agencies within the state as well as State and Federal agencies. The BCA FSS is also the laboratory responsible for receiving and analyzing all convicted offender samples and maintaining the DNA database. nca/ncf

The 2016 BCA FSS DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction program will continue to utilize many of the same overall strategies used in previous grant cycles to reduce the backlog of DNA cases. For the past several years, we have utilized a portion of each DNA Backlog Reduction grant to increase capacity through the purchase of such items such as automated liquid handing systems, DNA extraction robots, and upgrades to our genetic analyzers to increase the number of capillaries available for analysis. We have also used a significant portion of the award to purchase supplies used to analyze backlogged DNA cases.

The 2016 program will utilize grant funding to increase capacity and ensure continuing support of instrumentation through the purchase of two new genetic analyzers as part of the plan to replace our entire fleet of genetic analyzers. We will continue to use grant funding purchase the supplies needed to perform analysis on some of the estimated 9,000 cases that will be submitted for DNA testing in the two year grant period. The program will also seek to increase the number of hours that trained DNA scientists are available to work on backlogged cases by providing funding for overtime and to fund a position whose job duties include performing selected casework duties, as well as reagent preparation and quality control checks on reagents and instrumentation.

We are also are seeking to improve our capacity by providing funding for educational opportunities for scientific staff, exposing them to new innovative technologies that may help improve lab efficiencies. nca/ncf