FY 2018 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s (TCME) Office is a regional medical examiner’s facility located in Fort Worth, Texas that provides services to Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and Johnson counties. These counties represent a core population of approximately three million citizens. The Medical Examiner’s Office operates a multi-discipline crime laboratory that offers Forensic Biology and DNA analysis. The Forensic Biology/DNA laboratory not only serves the Medical Examiner, District Attorney, and other Tarrant County agencies, but also provides analysis on a fee for service basis to law enforcement agencies throughout the four counties served. It also serves many other agencies throughout North Central Texas and the rest of the United States.

The proposed project would fund salary and benefits for a Forensic Biologist to assist in the initial screening of biological samples, purchase supplies for developing DNA profiles in the laboratory, upgrade software used to analyze DNA profiles, purchase a replacement CODIS server, and fund required continuing education for analysts. NCA/NCF