FY 2018 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program

The Prince George’s County Police Department, Forensic Science Division, an ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board accredited laboratory (ALI-375-T), is requesting funds under the FY 18 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program to outsource DNA evidence from backlogged cases in order to reduce the current backlog of DNA cases. The county, with a population of approximately 950,000 people, continues to see a relatively high crime rate, second only to Baltimore City in the state of Maryland. The need for this type of financial assistance continues due to staffing and financial difficulties facing the department.

The main issue facing our laboratory is an increase of older untested evidence which can be best addressed by outsourcing cases. We plan to outsource approximately one hundred (100) cases over the course of two (2) years, sending fifty (50) cases each year. We will outsource under our current contract with Bode Cellmark Forensics, an accredited and licensed forensic DNA testing laboratory. NCA/NCF