Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $293,808)
Funds from this grant will be used to address two main goals and associated objectives:
1) Reduce the backlog of unanalyzed forensic DNA cases by analyzing a minimum of 1100 backlogged violent and non-violent crime DNA casework using grant funded overtime and purchased supplies.
2) Provide DNA Advisory Board (DAB) required continuing education to nine DNA analysts
By using the 2017 CEBR program grant funds for the above goals, the Orange County Crime Laboratory (OCCL) will be able to reduce the backlog in the DNA Bureau. The OCCL continues to see more incoming DNA work requests than the number of cases completed per month. Due to budgetary constraints, no new DNA positions are expected in the near future. With 1394 backlogged cases at the end of 2016, the turnaround times on non-priority casework maybe as long as nine to ten months. Grant funded overtime and reagents will help reduce this backlog and provide more timely results which will be better utilized by law enforcement and district attorney personnel. Continuing education funded by the grant will provide DNA analysts the opportunity to learn about new technology and instrumentation for purchase and implementation in the laboratory. The provided training will satisfy the yearly DNA Advisory Board's requirement for continuing education of nine DNA analysts.
nca/ncf