STR Analysis of Convicted Offender Samples

Project summary for 2000-RC-CX-0007 In October of 1998, the FBI's National DNA Index System (NDIS) became operational, allowing States to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically, thereby linking crimes to each other and to convicted offenders through the implementation of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). With increasing demands being placed on States to expand their DNA database laws, a large backlog of convicted offender samples has developed. In California, more than 30,000 samples already have been collected and are waiting to be analyzed and uploaded into the national DNA database. This award supplies funds to outsource the STR analysis of collected convicted offender DNA samples. All vendor laboratories selected to receive the funding from the grant recipients will be accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) or certified by the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) to ensure that quality and reliable results will populate the national DNA database. As the grantee's State match, the laboratory will perform analysis of unknown suspect cases so the resulting DNA profiles will be entered into the forensic index section of the State and national DNA databases. The unsolved crimes worked in this way will be the "grist" for the convicted offender database "mill". Perhaps 10% or more of these unsolved crimes will find their solutions in the DNA profiles of the convicted offenders populating CODIS through this award.