Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2003, $2,485,415)
Project Summary for 2003-DN-BX-K022
DNA analysis used in conjunction with the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) is a powerful investigative tool beginning at the crime scene with the collection of evidence and ending with a judicial conclusion. For CODIS to be truly effective and DNA to reach its full crime-solving potential, DNA databases must be populated with both offender profiles and DNA profiles from crime scene evidence. DNA is especially useful in cases where no suspect is known. DNA profiles obtained from evidence collected in cases where there is no suspect can be compared to local, State, and national DNA databases through CODIS for a match between the evidence and a convicted felon.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections/Public Safety Services, Office of State Police Crime Laboratory, will coordinate with State and regional laboratories to examine 1547 no suspect cases using federal funding to pay for overtime, equipment for increasing capacity, and contracts for outsourcing. All of the DNA analyses will be performed by a private vendor laboratory. The resulting DNA profiles will be entered into the forensic index section of their State DNA database to be compared to convicted offender indices. Perhaps 10% or more of these forensic profiles from unsolved crimes will find their solutions in the DNA profles of the conficted offender samples currently populating CODIS.
ca/nf