Funds from this grant will be used to address three main goals and associated objectives: to reduce the backlog of unanalyzed forensic DNA cases by analyzing a minimum of 300 backlogged violent and…

The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department will receive $470,810 under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program Formula Grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance to address forensic DNA case backlogs and improve DNA analysis capacity from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2024. Funds will be used to analyze a minimum of 300 backlogged violent and non-violent crime DNA cases through overtime, provide continuing education training to 14 DNA analysts on new technologies and statistical analysis, and upgrade aging alternate light sources used to locate biological evidence. Reducing the DNA case backlog through overtime analysis and increasing analyst training on current issues and instrumentation will improve the timeliness of DNA results for law enforcement and increase the Orange County Crime Laboratory's overall capacity for DNA casework. The grant program aims to help state and local government DNA laboratories increase analysis capacity and reduce the number of forensic DNA samples awaiting examination.

Funds from this grant will be used to address three main goals and associated objectives: to reduce the backlog of unanalyzed forensic DNA cases by analyzing a minimum of 300 backlogged violent and non-violent crime DNA cases using grant funded overtime. To provide DNA advisory board (DAB) required continuing education training for fourteen DNA analysts by attending professional conferences and statistical analysis training on probabilistic genotyping. To upgrade aging alternate light sources used in the search of body fluids on items of evidence in the laboratory and in the field. By using the FY 22 DNA cebr program grant funds for the above goals, the orange county crime laboratory (occl) will be able to reduce the backlog and increase the laboratory capacity in the DNA bureau. Grant funded overtime will help reduce the backlog of violent and non-violent crime casework by allowing analysts to work overtime hours to perform laboratory analysis and the interpretation of DNA results. This will provide more timely results which can be better utilized by law enforcement and district attorney personnel. Continuing education funded by the grant will provide DNA analysts the opportunity to learn about new technology and instrumentation for purchase and implementation within the laboratory as well as current trends and issues in the field of forensic DNA analysis. This provided training will satisfy the yearly DAB's requirement for continuing education of fourteen DNA analysts. The replacement of aging alternate light sources will improve the DNA bureau's ability to quickly locate and document potential probative DNA which will increase laboratory efficiency and reduce turnaround times.