FY 2018 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program

Onondaga County, a unit of local government, established the Forensic Laboratories in 1999 as part of the Center for Forensic Sciences, administered by the County’s Department of Health.

The Forensic Laboratories (CFS-FL) are designated by New York State as a crime laboratory and as such are accredited through the New York State Commission on Forensic Science and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors / Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) ISO International Accreditation program.

The CFS-FL are currently accredited to provide services in five disciplines including latent prints, firearms, forensic chemistry (controlled substances and fire debris analysis), digital evidence, and forensic biology/DNA.

The forensic biology/DNA section consists of six FTE positions, including a senior DNA scientist, three forensic scientists, a laboratory technician that performs serology examinations, and a validation specialist proposed for funding under the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction program.

The senior DNA scientist is responsible for supervision of personnel, assignment of cases, oversight of quality assurance, and performing casework and also serves as the technical lead of the section. The validation specialist is responsible for all validations in biology screening and DNA analysis, performing the section quality control and quality assurance functions, and in the future, limited casework duties.

NCA/NCF