A PLan for the State of Wisconsin to reduce DNA backlogs-Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Laboratory Bureau

The Wisconsin Department of Justice-Crime Laboratory Bureau (WI DOJ-CLB) is the agency responsible for analyzing evidential material associated with criminal investigations for all state and local law enforcement agencies within the State of Wisconsin. The WI DOJ-CLB maintains two regional DNA forensic science laboratories located in Madison and Milwaukee. Wisconsin state statute 973.047 designates the WI DOJ-CLB as the agency responsible for conducting analysis on DNA samples collected from all convicted felons, violent felon arrestees and certain other designated offenders. The WI DOJ-CLB is responsible for storing and maintaining the resultant profiles in the WI DNA data Bank. The Madison laboratory maintains the DNA Data bank unit.

The WI DOJ-CLB continues to face budgetary constraints. The federal funding from this program will be used for the following goals:
1. Maintain the backlog of forensic biology/DNA cases to under a 40 day turnaround
2. Reduce the backlog of DNA database samples
3. Maintain current technologies in DNA and replace aging equipment
4. Provide required continuing education to DNA analysts

The WI DOJ-CLB will analyze a minimum of 179 forensic biology/DNA cases with the use of supply and overtime funding from this program. The agency expects to maintain a turnaround time of under 40 days and maintain productivity of each DNA analyst to at least 30 samples per month. Additionally the WI DOJ-CLB expects to outsoure 2,000 database samples under this program.

nca/ncf.