Fiscal Year 2012 Funding for DNA Analysis, Crime Laboratory Capacity Enhancement and Other Forensic Activities

• NCJ Number: 244196
• Author(s): Gerald LaPorte
• Date Published: April 2014
• Length: 9 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Statistics; Report (Annual/Periodic)

Annotation

This report presents fiscal year (FY) 2012 funding data for various DNA and other forensic science activities administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) - the research, development, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Justice Department.

Abstract

In FY 2012, NIJ was appropriated $117 million for a DNA analysis and capacity enhancement program and for other local, State, and Federal forensic activities, including those authorized under Section 2 of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000. NIJ allocated almost $105 million of this amount to grant awards and contracts in three broad categories: building lab capacity and reducing the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples; research and development for DNA and other forensic sciences; and training and technical assistance. Approximately 81 percent of the funds for grants and contracts went directly to, or in support of, crime laboratories and police departments to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis, solve cold cases, and identify missing persons. Details and access to PDF reports are provided on DNA backlog reduction programs, using DNA technology to identify the missing, basic scientific research to support forensic science, strategic approaches to sexual assault kit evidence, and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). 1 exhibit and 6 notes