Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2018, $266,100)
The North Dakota Office of Attorney General (ND OAG), Crime Laboratory Division is the agency that is responsible for analyzing evidential material associated with criminal investigations for all state and local law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, and coroners with the state. North Dakota Century Code 31-13 also designates the ND OAG, Crime Laboratory Division as the agency responsible for conducting DNA analysis on DNA samples collected from all registered offenders and convicted felons, as well as all felony arrestees in the state of North Dakota. Additionally, the laboratory is responsible for storing and maintaining the resultant profiles in the North Dakota State Index System (SDIS) and uploading the qualified profiles into the National DNA Index System (NDIS).
The ND OAG, Crime Laboratory Division is requesting to use FY 2018 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction formula grant dollars to work towards the laboratory and division goals of helping to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis.
Specifically, the laboratory is requesting to utilize the federal dollars to purchase equipment and supplies to aid in their efforts as well as funds to contract with a vendor to conduct the bi-annually required external QAS audit of the DNA Unit. The equipment consists of a Maxwell RSC 48 system and a MaxPrep Liquid Handler RSC robotic system. Supplies purchased will be used to process, screen, and analyze forensic DNA casework and/or database samples.
The Office of Attorney General, Crime Laboratory Division is striving to attain an average 30-day DNA casework and database sample turn-around time and to increase the productivity of each analyst to at least 50 samples per month.
The agency also expects to work at least 55 cases and 3,000 DNA database samples (which includes 140 QC samples) using federal funding.
nca/ncf