2019 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction

Project Goals and Objectives - This application is for Federal assistance from the FY 2019 DNA Capacity Enhancement For Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program. Funds are being sought to handle, screen, and/or analyze backlogged forensic and database samples. Overtime, continuing salary and benefit support of grant funded personnel, and the outsourcing of backlogged cases to a qualifying fee-for-service laboratory will be used in accomplishing this task. The SLED DNA Laboratory is an NDIS participant lab in good standing and is eligible to upload appropriate profiles to NDIS. Therefore, the resulting evidence and database profiles from analysis of these samples will be entered and searched in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to assist state and local agencies to ultimately solve crimes. While many variables determine the number of backlogged cases, through the use of overtime and grant funded personnel internally, and outsourcing analysis on property crimes externally, SLED expects to reduce the DNA case and database backlog by the end of the award period. Funding on this award will allow us to analyze approximately 250 cases using overtime and grant funded analysts and 2000 database samples using grant funded overtime. Additionally, we anticipate that we will outsource approximately 245-345 cases using these funds. Funds are being sought to provide continuing education for DNA analysts. Educational information and new technologies presented in these training events enhance the lab’s capabilities in implementing new DNA methodologies and increasing throughput through exposure to novel automation and techniques. The 2019 award will fund a vendor to perform a QAS external audit without requiring SLED analysts to provide an audit to another laboratory in return. This allows SLED analysts to focus on their primary responsibilities; thereby aiding in the reduction of the SLED DNA backlog. Grant funds are also being sought to outsource validation of critical instruments and protocols that will improve efficiency of the DNA Casework and Database Departments and allow for upgrades to software that is Windows 10 compatible. Windows 10 compatibility is important for IT security purposes. Funds from this award will help expand the punch and extraction capacity for both the Database and Casework Departments, respectively, with the purchase of a CPA200 Punch Instrument, a QIAcube, and an EZ2. Turnaround for priority CODIS hit confirmations will be improved with the purchase of a Rapid DNA workstation along with validation supplies to expand the analysis capability to FTA substrates.