FY2015 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program

The Biology section of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Criminalistics Laboratory (JCCL) consists of nine Forensic Scientists (FS). Three out of the nine FS are grant funded positions. All FS assigned to the Biology section are capable of performing biological screening and DNA analyses. The Biology Supervisor/DNA Technical Leader spends the majority of their time performing duties other than casework.

Problem:
In 2014, the population of Johnson County, Kansas rose to an estimated 574,272 people. This represents a 12% increase from 2005 population estimates. Evidence submissions for biological screening and DNA analysis has increased over the past two years and has exceeded the laboratory’s output capacity for timely analyses.

Goals and Objectives:
• Retain at least two of the three grant funded staff positions
• Maintain the current level of casework productivity
• Maintain or reduce case/item backlogs and turnaround times

Project Strategy:
The amount of funding that is available to the county will not be enough to pay the salaries and benefits for the three grant funded positions for a twelve month period. There are several alternate strategies that may be implemented to maintain staffing at the current levels.

Partnerships:
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory has been working in cooperation with the Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI) and the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center (SCRFSC) for DNA Capacity and Backlog Reduction Program grants. According to the KBI and SCRFSC points of contact, the KBI and JCCL forensic laboratories in Kansas will be requesting funds from the FY2015 DNA Backlog Reduction Program grant.

Outcomes and Deliverables:
It will be a goal for each grant funded position to be able to work approximately 43 DNA cases, 191 DNA items, 47 biology cases, and 229 biology items of evidence in 34 weeks.

nca/ncf.