Policy and Capacity in Crime DNA

This project will include convening a DNA panel at the NCSL annual meeting and developing two criminal justice briefing papers on forensic DNA policy issues for distribution to state legislatures. The meeting program at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit (formerly known as Annual Meeting) in New Orleans is designed to highlight for policy makers the progress and promise of DNA in criminal justice systems and to address capacity, quality and funding issues associated with up-to-date forensic analysis. The session will consider policy implications of DNA field study and other forensic DNA research. It will feature NIJ officials or contractors. The session also may include discussion of efforts like five state work under way by the National Governor's Association, illustrative of advancing effective use of DNA in criminal justice systems.
The first briefing paper will describe operational aspects of modern labs and DNA analysis, as well as discuss means for addressing capacity and backlogs. The second briefing paper will explore policy implications of updated Department of Justice data on forensic crime labs, including functions, workload, resources and backlogs.

nca/ncf