The Costs and Benefits of the DNA Field Experiment

This project will broaden and extend the cost-effectiveness analysis of the DNA Field Experiment, an NIJ funded randomized trial of the cost-effectiveness of the use of DNA evidence to aid burglary investigations. The DNA Field Experiment provided funds to five communities to expand DNA evidence collection and testing to the investigation of property crimes. For that evaluation, the Urban Institute collected and analyzed data on the cost of up to 500 cases per site that were randomly assisnged between November 1, 2005 and July 31, 2007. Outcomes for these cases were observed through October 31, 2007. Thus, for many cases, the follow-up period only allowed for the evaluation of preliminary case outcomes, including the number of suspects identified, arrested and accepted for prosecution. This project will extend the analysis to include final case disposition, in cluding sentences for convicted offenders. As a result, the costs of correctional supervision will be estimated, as well as the benefits of prevented crime from incapacitation. The final product will combien the estimates of the costs from the cost-effectiveness analysis and this new analysis, and compare those costs to benefits estimated in this new analysis.

ca/ncf