Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2018, $253,014)
The Tucson Police Department Crime Laboratory (TPDCL) has received a significant increase in submissions for DNA analysis over the last few years. New policies adopted by the Department have contributed to this increase in submissions, as well as a new Arizona state law (effective March 21, 2017) regarding sexual assault kits (SAKs) and the timely testing of this type of evidence.
Our City has been unable to fund the addition of more Criminalists to the TPDCL to address the increase in submissions to the DNA section. The grant funds will allow TPDCL to have a full-time DNA Screener and a full-time DNA Criminalist to continue to address the growing backlog of DNA cases needing analysis in violent crime cases.
The replacement of an aging quantitation instrument will keep the DNA section running by updating this key piece of equipment that handles a vital step of DNA analysis. Grant-funded overtime (second appointment) will provide an additional analysis of approximately 60 violent crime cases further reducing the backlog of DNA cases and turnaround time.
NCA/NCF