FY2015 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program - County of Alameda, California

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) Crime Laboratory is responsible for processing all evidence submitted to the laboratory associated with criminal investigations from local law enforcement agencies throughout Alameda County excluding the City of Oakland.
In order to continue meeting the needs of our user agencies in providing DNA analysis in a timely manner, grant funds from this award will be used to continue funding two positions (two Criminalists) in the DNA Unit.
These two positions have been funded through NIJ / DNA grant funds since 2008, and without these grant funds, the positions would not exist.
The funding from this award will be used for the following goals:
1. Increase case throughput
2. Reduce case backlog
3. Reduce case turn-around time to 120 days or less
4. Improve efficiency of the casework process.
5. Provide training and/or continuing education.
The Forensic Biology Unit expects to maintain monthly case productivity as well as reduce the case backlog. The DNA Unit expects to reduce turn-around time to 120 days or less. The two funded Criminalists will be responsible for conducting DNA casework and performing technical reviews and administrative reviews of casework.
The FY2015 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program will also provide funds for training and continuing education of the DNA analysts per the FBI’s quality assurance standards for forensic testing laboratories. Providing continuing education and advanced training to the laboratory’s experienced DNA analysts will ensure that the crime laboratory delivers the best possible, most efficient, and timely forensic DNA analytical services to Alameda County.
Additionally, funds from the FY2015 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program will be used to address process inefficiencies through Lean Six Sigma performance enhancements.

nca/ncf.