Decrease the Controlled Substance and Firearm Analysis Backlog Utilizing Overtime

Decrease the Controlled Substance and Firearm Analysis Backlog Utilizing Overtime The Oregon State Police, Forensic Services Division provides scientific, technical and· investigative support to the criminal justice system through the forensic analysis of evidence. The Division is comprised of five forensic laboratories that are geographically located throughout the state to provide services to all criminal justice agencies. These services include the analysis of controlled substances and firearms. The Division has 33 analysts trained to conduct controlled substance analysis across all five laboratories and has nine analysts trained to conduct Firearms processing across four laboratories. For controlled substance analysis, during 2014 the Division received 10,702 submissions and completed 10,812. The ability to complete 110 more submissions than what was received was due to the use of overtime funds from the 2014 Coverdell grant. The (calendar year) average backlog of controlled substance submissions over 30 days old over the past five years has been 444 requests. The average turn-around-time in 2014 for controlled substance submissions was47.9 days compared with the previous five-year average of 39 days. For the Firearms analysis, during 2014 the Division received 1,696 requests and as of April 1, 2015, there was a backlog of 265 requests. The backlog is partially due to the number of hits via the Integrated Ballistic Identification System which has created a backlog in the number of confirmations. The (calendar year) average backlog of Firearms submissions over 30 days old over the past five years has been 196 requests (on 4-1-15 there were 177). The average turn-around-time in 2014 for Firearms submissions was 107.8 days compared with the previous five-year average of 85 days. The Division currently monitors on a monthly basis the volume of pending controlled substance and Firearms submissions at both the Laboratory level and at the Division level. Casework is moved between laboratories to optimize the availability of staff and productivity. The overall goal of the Division for use of these funds is to complete all controlled substance and Firearms analysis within 30 days of receipt. The objectives for use of Coverdell funds is to use approximately 881 hours of overtime for Chemistry analysis to complete an additional 696 submissions that will reduce the backlog and improve the turn-around-time; and to use approximately 294 hours of overtime for Firearms analysis to complete an additional 10 Firearms comparison submissions and 29 Firearms processing submissions.

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