FY 2018 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program

The Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory (KCPCL) has experienced tremendous success with prior NIJ DNA backlog reduction grants, and is committed to continuing that success with the FY2018 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program grant.

The primary goal of the laboratory for this program is to reduce the backlog of cases waiting DNA testing. Secondary goals will be an effort to reduce the turnaround time of violent and non-violent crimes cases by 5% each and to enhance laboratory capacity.
Funding from this grant primarily focuses on the retention of grant-funded personnel previously hired and trained under prior grant awards.

The above goals of a reduction in backlog and an effort to reduce turnaround time will be met through the continued efforts of these staff in the processing of cases with requests for biological evidence screening and subsequent DNA analysis. Staff funded under this grant will include four full-time DNA analysts. These individuals will complete cases that otherwise would not have been completed without this funding, thereby reducing the backlog.

Funding from this grant will also enable the purchase of software and equipment to assist in enhancing laboratory capacity. The laboratory will purchase software upgrades to its existing LIMS system and HID RT-PCR quantitation software. LIMS upgrades are necessary after a complete change in workflow after the implementation of probabilistic genotyping software STRmix and will improve the efficiency of the section by decreasing time spent taking notes, writing reports, and performing technical reviews.

The laboratory will also purchase extraction equipment and cameras that must currently be shared by the section. Reducing the amount of shared equipment will increase the efficiency of the section. Increases in efficiency will help to enhance the capacity of the laboratory.

NCA/NCF