Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $591,430)
Project Goals and Objectives - This application is for Federal assistance for the FY 2016 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program. Funds are being sought to handle, screen, and/or analyze forensic DNA casework samples that would otherwise remain backlogged. These funds will be used to accomplish that goal by employing a multifaceted approach.
The continued support of salaries and benefits for additional staff employed to screen cases will be a pivotal aspect of this program. The majority of the cases screened by the four technicians funded by this award are sexual assaults. Three full time DNA analysts will also be supported by this program, allowing for the in-house DNA analysis of cases for which results would be delayed without this assistance.
We are also requesting to utilize these funds for the purchase of amplification kits needed for in-house analysis. These kits will be utilized to generate DNA profiles on forensic DNA cases.
Additionally, we will utilize overtime to further increase the number of cases completed and resulted to local agencies as a result of this funding. Both DNA analysts and technicians will be authorized to utilize overtime to screen or analyze cases. Also, DNA analysts will use some of the overtime funding to review outsourced cases, further aiding in the delivery of results to the local agency.
The SLED DNA Laboratory is an NDIS participant lab in good standing and is eligible to upload appropriate profiles to NDIS. Therefore, the resulting evidence profiles from analysis of all cases analyzed as a result of these funds will be entered and searched in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to assist state and local agencies to ultimately solve crimes.
While many variables determine the total number of cases backlogged and the number of backlogged cases that can be completed by these means, through the use of overtime, grant funded personnel, and grant funded supplies, SLED expects to reduce the DNA case backlog by the end of the award period.
nca/ncf