Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $1,031,991)
The State of Wisconsin has two active accredited crime laboratories that are performing DNA Analysis for all state and local law enforcement agencies. Every two years each laboratory undergoes an external audit to maintain their accreditation. Additionally, Wisconsin state statute designates the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory (WSCL) as the agency responsible for conducting DNA analysis on all eligible offender samples.
The WSCL continues to encounter mandatory budgetary constrictions. This results in reduced funding for staff, supplies, equipment, and professional development. Combined with increased capacity demands, the number of days between submission and delivery of test results as well as the backlog has been negatively impacted. To continue to provide maximum assistance to law enforcement agencies and public safety Wisconsin must exceed their current level of funding. The goals of this project are as follows:
1. Reduce the backlog and increase the capacity of DNA analysis and database services
2. Assist Wisconsin with the collection of offender reference DNA samples
3. Maintain high quality forensic services
By funding these objectives the WSCL expects to analyze a minimum of 500 DNA Analysis cases and 15,000 Database. Optimistically, these profiles will produce 100 investigative leads to law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the WSCL expects to decrease their backlog by 10% and maintain an average of 30 DNA Analysis cases per analyst/month. Finally, the WSCL expects that thirty analysts fulfill their continuing education requirements at national meetings, that seventy-nine analysts and technicians complete proficiency tests, and that the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) ISO 17025 accreditation will be maintained.
nca/ncf