Note:
This awardee has received supplemental funding. This award detail page includes information about both the original award and supplemental awards.
Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $406,343)
The National District Attorneys Association, (NDAA) working in partnership with the National Institute of Justice, (NIJ) proposes a two-year National Cold Hit Reporting Initiative designed to develop, implement and promote a computer/web-based system designed to track DNA cold hits from the initial forensic lab notification to law enforcement and prosecution through the final case outcome whether by plea, trial or declination. NDAA's goal is to promote and enhance relevant stakeholders' (lab personnel, prosecutors and law enforcement) understanding of the need to track cold hits and provide them with the tools to facilitate tracking and reporting these hits. In the initial phase of the project, NDAA will hold a joint meeting of the four pilot communities and compile a written report to NIJ summarizing the issues, progress and performance data obtained during this period. During the second phase of this partnership, NDAA will organize and conduct a one day Symposium of twenty communities to showcase the pilot communities' progress. Specific objectives during for this Initiative are:
' Develop and implement a DNA cold hit tracking system for use by forensic labs, law enforcement and district attorneys.
' Conduct a 1 day symposium to promote and showcase pilot tracking jurisdictions' progress.
' Prepare a monograph describing lessons learned and best practices associated with developing a national cold hit reporting initiative.
' NDAA will aggressively market national awareness of the need for tracking DNA hits and capitalize on its unique relations with prosecutor and law enforcement associations.
' NDAA will provide on-going technical assistance during this Initiative.
ca/ncf