FY 2015 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program - San Diego Police Department

The demand for DNA typing services in the City of San Diego remains high. We continue to explore ways in which to increase our efficiency and address the high casework demands placed on our Forensic Biology Section. As our testing techniques become more sensitive, we are finding that we can get meaningful results from evidence that previously eluded us. The successful completion of our cartridge case study showing we can get probative profiles from fired cartridge cases in significant percentages illustrates this point. These successes lead to continual requests to do more, faster, and with difficult evidence. It is our goal to utilize these grant funds to continue to increase the efficiency of casework output in our DNA laboratory, and to provide the funding to allow additional cases to be worked on overtime. The combination of these two things should result in a decrease in backlogged cases. We seek $311,611 in grant funds in an attempt to achieve some important specific results.
1. Reduce the average turnaround time on DNA cases to below 80 days (Currently 89 days).
2. Increase the average number of samples analyzed per analyst per month to 45 samples per month (from 38-40 currently).
3. Reduce the backlog (cases over 30 days) by approximately 10% from 294 to 260, in part by completing 85 cases in-house using grant funded overtime.
4. Provide mandated training to all analysts in the DNA laboratory.
5. Purchase software that will increase our ability to interpret complex mixtures, thereby enhancing our abilities in touch DNA cases.
6. Provide equipment to continue to upgrade our efficiency capabilities, thereby reducing turnaround times.

nca/ncf.