Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $529,768)
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Forensic Services (CBI-FS) submits the following as the abstract for its plan for funds allocated through the FY16 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program.
It is the intent of this organization to enhance the capacity of the forensic DNA laboratories. This will be done by the purchase of upgraded instrumentation which will quantify and amplify DNA product faster and more accurately than what is currently in place in these laboratories.
The CBI-FS also proposes to purchase software which will be part of the existing laboratory case management system. This new software will allow forensic DNA analysts to enter all information about their batches, to include instruments used and samples analyzed into the case management software directly. Currently, these analysts must hand type into an Excel spreadsheet that is later imported into the case management program. This current process is time consuming and susceptible to error. This new software will decrease error and work speedily and directly with the management software.
The second goal of this project will be to reduce backlog within the CBI-FS forensic DNA laboratories by funding overtime for the analysis of biological science cases outside of normal work hours. This will increase the total number of cases that our current analysts can complete during the time of this award. It is expected based on current average analysis times that at least 110 additional cases will be worked using the overtime funds from this award.
Finally, as part of the capacity of the DNA sections of the CBI-FS we must be able to participate in the CODIS DNA database at the local, state and national (NDIS) levels. To be able to participate at the national level, laboratories must adhere to FBI quality assurance standards. These standards require every DNA analyst to receive continuing education annually. Funds from this award will allow some of the analysts to receive this training at national conferences. Further, funds from this award will pay for an external audit of the DNA laboratories which also a requirement for NDIS participation.
nca/ncf