Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $2,006,061)
To reduce the number of forensic DNA cases awaiting analysis, the nine Texas Department of Public Safety casework laboratories will work as a team to engage its 109 Forensic DNA Scientists and DNA Technicians to work examining evidence, developing DNA profiles, and then entering those forensic profiles into the CODIS DNA database.
In this grant application, funds are requested to pay overtime to as many as 65 state funded DNA scientists to work overtime Funds are also requested to continue the employment of fourteen additional grant funded FTEs, and to acquire supplies and kits to perform forensic DNA testing in house. The goal will be to complete the analysis of evidence on 1,643 backlogged forensic DNA cases during the project period. Additional equipment is requested for one laboratory in order to reduce a bottleneck that currently exists due to increased staffing.
The DPS is requesting funding to perform Lean Six Sigma analysis of one of the large DNA laboratories in order to gain efficiencies and further reduce backlogs. Knowledge gained from that project is expected to be subsequently applied to the other laboratories.
In conjunction with this work, DNA scientists will attend continuing education by attending DNA training workshops to retain their proficiency, enhance their skills and improve efficiency. nca/ncf