The Philadelphia Police Department, Office of Forensic Science, Criminalistics Unit Reduction of Forensic Biology and DNA Case Backlog Program

The Philadelphia Police Department, Office of Forensic Science, Criminalistics Unit is responsible for analyzing evidentiary material, associated with criminal investigations for the City of Philadelphia. The Criminalistics Unit is comprised of the "DNA Laboratory" which conducts all DNA typing analysis and the "Trace Laboratory" which screens evidence for biological material suitable for DNA analysis.
The Philadelphia Police Department, Office of Forensic Science, Criminalistics Unit is facing budgetary constraints. For the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, the City of Philadelphia accounted for approximately 40% of the Violent Part 1 Crimes in the State of Pennsylvania for each year listed. The demand for services to the Office of Forensic Science DNA Laboratory continues to expand, while available funding decreases or plateaus. Increases in the sensitivity of DNA Technology and the success of CODIS entries has resulted in the increased application of DNA analysis to any evidence that is known to have been handled/touched by an individual probative to the investigation. The Federal funding from this award will be used for the following goals:
1. Reducing the forensic DNA case backlog by funding analysts to work overtime to analyze backlogged forensic biology/DNA cases..
2. Reducing the forensic biology/DNA case backlog through the outsourcing of backlogged cases to be screened for biological material suitable for DNA analysis and the development of any DNA profiles.
3. Increasing Criminalistics Unit efficiency, productivity, and throughput of cases through a evaluation of the Criminalistics Unit by a forensic Lean Six Sigma provider and implementation of recommended systematic and analytical improvements.
4. To send nine forensic scientists to continuing education in forensic DNA technology. This will keep the laboratory informed about technological advances, analytical modifications, interpretation issues, and provide necessary continuing education.
5. Purchase of equipment to expand existing capabilities and increase the number of cases analyzed.
The Philadelphia Police Department, Office of Forensic Science, Criminalistics Unit can expect to reduce the backlog of forensic biology DNA cases by at least 550 cases by the end of the award period.

nca/ncf.