2017 SLED Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction

Project Goals and Objectives - This application is for Federal assistance from the FY 2017 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program. Funds are being sought to handle, screen, and/or analyze backlogged forensic and database samples.

Overtime, continuing salary and benefit support of grant funded personnel, and the outsourcing of backlogged cases to a qualifying fee-for-service laboratory will be utilized for the analysis of these backlogged cases and samples.

The SLED DNA Laboratory is an NDIS participant lab in good standing and is eligible to upload appropriate profiles to NDIS. Therefore, the resulting evidence and database profiles from analysis of these samples will be entered and searched in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to assist state and local agencies to ultimately solve crimes.

While many variables determine the number of backlogged cases, through the use of overtime and grant funded personnel internally, and outsourced analysis on externally; SLED expects to reduce the DNA case and database backlog by the end of the award period. Funding from this award will allow us to analyze approximately 250 cases utilizing overtime and grant funded analysts and 2000 database samples using grant funded overtime. Additionally, we anticipate that we will outsource approximately 104 cases using these funds.

Funds are being sought to provide continuing education for DNA analysts. Educational information and new technologies presented in these training events enhance the lab’s capabilities in implementing new DNA methodologies and increasing throughput through exposure to novel automation and techniques. Funds will also cover travel expenses associated with a required site visit to the fee-for-service laboratory contracted to perform DNA analysis on SLED cases.

Funds from this award will also allow us to contract with a vendor to perform a QAS external audit without requiring SLED analysts to provide an audit to another laboratory in return. This allows SLED analysts additional time to focus on their primary responsibilities; thereby aiding in the reduction of the SLED DNA backlog.

nca/ncf