The kansas city police crime laboratory (kcpcl) has experienced remarkable success in sample capacity enhancement with prior NIJ DNA backlog reduction grants

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the City of Kansas City Police Department a $653,764 Formula Grant under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program (CFDA 16.741). The grant will fund increased laboratory capacity and reduced turnaround times at the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory's Biology Section from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2024.

Specifically, the grant will support the analysis of 5% more CODIS-eligible DNA samples over the award period by funding six additional DNA examiner positions and new DNA analysis equipment. This aims to decrease the backlog of cases awaiting DNA testing in the Biology Section and improve turnaround times to better serve citizens in the Kansas City, Missouri area. The State of Missouri is the parent organization for this subaward to the local law enforcement laboratory.

The overarching goal of this project is to decrease the backlog of cases awaiting testing in the biology section and subsequently improve the turnaround time. The primary objective utilized to achieve this goal will be to increase the number of codis eligible samples analyzed, increasing the capacity of the biology section, by 5% over the life of the award. The kcpcl intends to meet these goals through employment of six grant-funded examiners and through the purchase and implementation of new equipment. The kcpcl is enthusiastic to witness the changes implemented under this grant come to fruition and allow the kcpcl the opportunity to better serve the citizens of kansas city and surrounding areas.