Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $737,522)
The goal of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is to utilize the award funds to increase analyst throughput and decrease the number of backlogged DNA cases, and decrease turnaround time.
The objective is to utilize the funds provided in this solicitation for the purchase of additional equipment to increase the capacity to extract and screen samples, to continue the support of 7 Forensic Biologist positions that originated from funding for the FY2012 Backlog Reduction grant, and to purchase the necessary kits for extraction, quantitation and Y-STR analysis to maintain the increased level of DNA sample processing.
The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is requesting funding to decrease approximately 1600 backlogged cases. The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory has had an increase in its backlog because of an increase of sexual assault kits submitted to the lab due to ACT 1168 and turnover of trained analysts. Due to this increase, the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is requesting funding to purchase additional supplies to be used for extraction and analysis of DNA samples. The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is also requesting funds to send 7 DNA Analysts out to conferences for continued education. By sending the analysts out to conferences, it allows them to bring back new ideas and technologies to allow for more efficient processing of samples as well as disseminate our own innovations and successes. The goals of this program are to 1. Maintain the DNA section. 2. Improve the Capabilities of the Forensic DNA section.
nca/ncf