FY 2017 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program-Utah Department of Public Safety

The mission of the Utah Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Forensic Services (DPS-BFS) is to provide a safe and secure environment for the citizens of Utah through the application of forensic science.

The goal of the forensic biology section is to provide quality and impartial forensic biological analysis in a prompt manner. The laboratory provides accurate and sound science during forensic biology and DNA analysis, while striving to maintain a rapid response to analysis requests.

DPS-BFS maintains three laboratories throughout the State of Utah: Northern, Southern and Central laboratories. The forensic biology section is located in the Central laboratory and is responsible for analyzing and processing all forensic DNA samples as well as storing, processing, and maintaining all forensic DNA database samples.

The BFS continues to see an increase in case submissions for DNA analysis as well as an increase in the number of samples per case and a continual demand for timely results and reports. BFS continues to strive to implement new and innovative ways to process cases to help eliminate our case backlog.

The Federal funding from this award will be used for the following goals:

1. Reduce the forensic DNA case backlog and decrease case turnaround.

2. Increase the capacity of the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services.

3. Decrease/maintain CODIS backlog.

BFS anticipates reducing our DNA case backlog and decreasing case turnaround time by increasing throughput in the biology section and providing the means for the analyst to complete more cases. The laboratory expects to process around 18,000 database samples using Federal funding. The ultimate goal of BFS is to decrease and maintain a turnaround time to less than 60 days. BFS continues to make improvements and strategize to use the CEBR program to help reach these goals.

nca/ncf