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Capacity enhancement

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Performance Data from the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program

: Casework laboratories test forensic evidence from on ongoing cases and investigations. The metrics they report come from the DNA analysis of this evidence. Database laboratories analyze DNA samples collected from convicted offenders and arrestees as the State’s legislation dictates. Every state has at least one database laboratory, and those laboratories are generally managed by the state laboratory system. The metrics they reported are from the analysis of these database samples. Note that not all database laboratories collect arrestee samples and not all the grantees listed in this grid collect database samples.

January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018

Yes, the backlog reported in these metrics includes the SAK backlog. The CEBR program is designed to support DNA analysis for all crimes including homicide, sexual assault and robbery, thus NIJ does not focus on obtaining data associated with one category of evidence or crime.

A CODIS hit may involve the linking of crimes to each other and/or to convicted offenders or arrestees. The system’s hits are tracked as either an offender hit (where the identity of a potential suspect is generated) or as a forensic hit (where the DNA profiles obtained from two or more crime scenes are linked but the source of these profiles remains unknown (FBI, 2019)).

Grantees who record zero for measures D-F or J-L did not use their Federal award money for one or more of the following activities: overtime for existing scientists to analyze forensic biology/DNA cases or database samples, DNA testing supplies for forensic biology/DNA cases or database samples, outsourcing forensic biology/DNA cases or database samples, or hiring and supporting additional scientists whose main activity was analyzing forensic biology/DNA cases or database samples. If grantees are using their Federal award money for one or more of the above activities, they should have data to report for cases analyzed, database samples analyzed, profiles uploaded from forensic cases and database samples, and hits.

The award period for CEBR awards are two years. Some grantees receive extensions on their awards for many different reasons, but the longest extension an award can receive is one year, for a total award period of three years.

Manual Tags
DNA Backlog Reduction
Laboratory operations
Capacity enhancement
DNA Backlog Reduction Laboratory operations Capacity enhancement

Laboratory Capacity Enhancement

NIJ administers the funding programs listed below to enhance and assist forensic labs in multiple areas.

General information, based on the most recent year's solicitation, is provided for each program. Requirements and allowable costs under these programs can change from year to year. Be sure to read carefully any current solicitation applying to any of these programs.

Forensic Laboratory Enhancement Funding

NIJ administers the funding programs to enhance and assist forensic labs in multiple areas.

General information, based on the most recent year's solicitation, is provided for each program.  Be sure to read carefully any current solicitation applying to any of these programs.

Research Meetings and Workshops

NIJ learns from the people who work day-to-day with the issues. We sponsor meetings, workshops, and working groups that bring together researchers, policymakers, technologists, and practitioners.

These meetings generate a rich exchange of ideas. They guide future research and help ensure that NIJ's research, development and evaluation activities meet real-world needs.

Review the summaries or transcripts available for many of these meetings:

NIJ FY18 Forensic DNA Laboratory Efficiency Improvement and Capacity Enhancement Program

Closing Date

The goal of NIJ's 2017 Project Based DNA Capacity Enhancement, Unit Efficiency, and Backlog Reduction program is to support and enable long term solutions for more efficient processing, recording, screening, and analysis of forensic DNA and/or DNA database samples and to increase the capacity of public forensic DNA and DNA database laboratories to process more DNA samples, thereby helping to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis.