No Suspect Casework DNA Reduction Backlog Program FY 2003

Project Summary for 2003-DN-BX-K044

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 potential, aiding the criminal justice system in solving crimes, DNA data bases 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 State of Rhode Island Department of Health, Forensic Biology Laboratory will examine 200 no suspect cases using federal funding to pay for overtime, equipment for increasing capacity, supplies for DNA analysis, consultants for laboratory assistance and contracts for outsourcing. All of the DNA analyses will be performed by a private vendor laboratory. The resulting DNA profile will be entered into the forensic index section of their State DNA database to be compared to convicted offender indices. DNA profiles will further be expeditiously uploaded to the National CODIS database. Perhaps 10% or more of these forensic profiles from unsolved crimes will find their solutions in the DNA profiles of the convicted offender samples currently populating CODIS.

ca/ncf