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NCJ Number: NCJ 199425     Find in a Library
Title: Report to the Attorney General on Delays in Forensic DNA Analysis
  Document URL: Text PDF 
Corporate Author: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
US Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
United States of America
Date Published: 03/2003
Page Count: 20
  Annotation: This document assesses the existing analysis delays of crime scene DNA evidence and provides recommendations to eliminate those delays.
Abstract: The assessments and recommendations address resource requirements for laboratory equipment; resource, training, and education requirements for laboratory personnel; and the use of innovative technologies that could permit speedier analysis with smaller equipment. Forensic DNA evidence has tremendous potential to solve some of the Nation’s most serious crimes. DNA has exonerated persons charged with or convicted of crimes they did not commit. But DNA currently is not used to its full potential because there is a significant backlog of casework samples that has been caused by a massive demand for DNA analyses without a corresponding growth in forensic laboratory capacity. It is estimated that approximately 350,000 rape and homicide cases await DNA testing. Only about 10 percent of these samples are in crime labs; approximately 90 percent are in the control of law enforcement agencies. One of the reasons why the majority of these unanalyzed samples are in the custody of police departments and not crime labs is because most crime labs lack sufficient evidence storage facilities that provide appropriate conditions to prevent degradation of evidence. The factors that contribute to the inability of labs to accept and process casework samples in a timely manner are a lack in sufficient trained forensic scientists, shrinking budgets, and an insufficient pool of qualified forensic scientists to hire. Recommendations include improving the DNA analysis capacity of public crime laboratories; helping State and local crime labs eliminate casework backlogs; eliminating existing convicted offender DNA backlogs; supporting training and education for forensic scientists; providing training to existing criminal justice personnel; and supporting DNA research and development.
Main Term(s): Services effectiveness ; DNA fingerprinting
Index Term(s): Crime Laboratories (Crime Labs) ; Trace evidence ; Suspect identification ; Blood/body fluid analysis ; Hair and fiber analysis ; Forensics/Forensic Sciences ; Scientific testimony ; NIJ final report
Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/NCJRS
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849
United States of America

NCJRS Photocopy Services
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
United States of America
Type: Report (Study/Research)
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Note: NIJ Special Report
   
  To cite this abstract, use the following link:
https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=199425

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