Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $150,000)
The Center for Forensic Sciences - Forensic Laboratories, a bureau organizationally located within the Onondaga County Health Department; includes the disciplines of Latent Prints, Forensic Biology/DNA, Controlled Substances, Fire Debris, Firearms, and Digital Evidence.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the county submit evidence for analysis and testimony is provided as necessary. The Forensic Biology/DNA section consists of one validation specialist, four casework analysts, and one casework supervisor.
The forensic laboratories will continue to fund the position of DNA Validation Specialist within the Forensic Biology/DNA Section for the purposes of performing validation studies on new analytical instrumentation, software, and laboratory methods. This will enable the analysts to focus on performing casework analysis and will bring newer technologies and methods to the section in a more timely fashion. The validation specialist may also perform a limited amount of casework as time permits. It is anticipated that the validation specialist will be signed off for casework in the spring of 2018.
The Forensic Biology/DNA Section will also use this award to fund overtime hours for analysts to increase throughput by increasing total bench hours. It is expected that the analysts will work at least 62 cases with the supply and overtime funding from this award. Grant funds will be used to purchase mandated proficiency tests and to send two casework analysts to national conferences/symposia, both to meet accreditation requirements.
The funding from this grant will enable the Forensic Biology section to complete its plan to increase case throughput (capacity) and improve the quality of analysis, while maintaining or reducing case backlog.
nca/ncf