The tulsa police department forensic laboratory (tpdfl) is responsible for analyzing biological evidence associated with criminal investigations for the city of tulsa police department

The City of Tulsa Police Department Forensic Laboratory (TPDFL) received a $323,438 Formula Grant award from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program (CFDA 16.741) for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2024. Funds will support improving DNA testing capacity and reducing turnaround times for database entry of eligible evidence to address increased demand resulting from new state legislation requiring timely submission of sexual assault kits. Specifically, funding will retain two personnel for serological screening and DNA sample extraction/selection workspaces, train personnel in DNA testing methods, support continuing education, and maintain laboratory accreditation through external audits and ANSI fees. The goal is to assist the TPDFL in providing forensic services to the citizens of Tulsa, Oklahoma by reducing DNA evidence backlogs through capacity enhancements.

In 2019, the oklahoma senate passed senate bill 975 requiring law enforcement agencies operating in the state to submit sexual assault evidence kits to accredited forensic laboratories within 20 days of specimen collection. This legislative change substancially increased the number of service requests submitted to the tpdfl for DNA testing. The tpdfl seeks federal funding from the FY 2022 DNA capacity enhancement for backlog reduction (cebr) program to alleviate the increased service demand by improving DNA testing capacity and decreasing the turnaround time for database entry of codis-eligible evidence. Funds received from this program will be used to: retain two grant-funded personnel for serological screening; train both grant-funded personnel in the DNA testing methods utilized by the tpdfl; create a second workspace for DNA sample extraction; create two additional workspaces for serology screening and DNA sample selection; fund continuing education opportunities for DNA testing personnel; fund key site team personnel to attend mandatory training for award recipients; fund an external quality assurance standards audit for forensic DNA testing; and fund ansi national accreditation board fees to maintain laboratory accreditation. The tpdfl administrators and biology section personnel appreciate the opportunity to compete for the FY 2022 DNA cebr program award to improve services for the citizens of tulsa, oklahoma.