Cooperative Agreement 2008DNBXK191

The County of Sacramento Department of Finance Division received a $133,051 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program (CFDA 16.741) to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the Sacramento County District Attorney Laboratory of Forensic Services. The funding will enable the purchase of a second QIAcube Connect instrument to automate the sperm pellet rinses during the DNA extraction process, which is currently done...

The National Institute of Justice awarded a $640,358 Project Grant under the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program (CFDA 16.044) to PI Richard Green at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The project aims to develop a laboratory procedure and software program to provide age estimation of an individual from DNA fragment features in single, rootless hair samples. Key activities include collecting DNA samples from 200 volunteers, processing 100 of these for DNA extraction and...

The DuPage County Forensic Science Center (DCFSC) has been awarded a $339,842 Formula Grant under the Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036) administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The grant funding will enable the DCFSC, a National DNA Index System (NDIS) participating laboratory, to address challenges in processing casework samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) within a reasonable turnaround time....

The City of Oakland Police Department Crime Laboratory was awarded a $409,324 Formula Grant under the Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036), administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. The grant, effective October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2026, will enable the Crime Lab to implement the FY24 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program. Key objectives include analyzing at least 257 backlogged forensic biology/DNA...

This $389,621 award from the National Institute of Justice under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program (CFDA 16.741) supports Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) research to develop and validate a novel workflow for determining the time-since-deposition of epithelial cell samples. The goal is to provide a fast, high-throughput, and non-destructive analysis technique that can enhance the probative value of touch or trace biological evidence for DNA caseworking laboratories. The specific aims are...

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences Forensic Genetics Laboratory (HCIFS-FGL) received a $1,142,198 Formula Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA) DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program (CFDA 16.741). The grant funds will be used to increase the number of DNA CODIS-eligible samples analyzed at HCIFS-FGL and reduce turnaround times for CODIS entries. Specifically, the grant will provide funding for overtime, supplies, software maintenance/upgrades, and...

This $284,030 Formula Grant award, provided by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036), supports the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner (ACOME) Forensic Biology Section in enhancing their DNA analysis capabilities. The key products and services to be delivered include: Outsourcing DNA processing for property crime cases to reduce the backlog and build the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)...

This $237,000 Project Grant award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753) aims to implement a Rapid DNA Investigative Leads Program in Desoto County, Mississippi. The program will automate the DNA testing process to generate timely investigative leads, eliminate and identify suspects, avoid unnecessary arrests, and swiftly identify unidentified human remains. This will improve investigative and operational efficiencies for both law...

The Erie County Forensic Laboratory was awarded a $890,031 Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.036 Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program). The grant will be used to increase the laboratory's capacity for forensic DNA analysis and reduce the backlog of DNA samples awaiting processing. Specifically, the funding will be used to cover overtime for DNA case processing, purchase laboratory equipment and supplies, validate new DNA...

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department Regional Crime Laboratory was awarded a $760,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753). The grant funds will be used to purchase a MiSeq FGX instrument and dedicated server ($255,000), as well as to outsource validations for Kintelligence and Mainstay Typing Kits ($475,000) and cover one year of service and maintenance ($30,000). This...