The illinois state police proposes to implement a forensic biology/DNA casework reduction plan

The Illinois State Police received a $2,766,963 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program (CFDA 16.741). The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of forensic biology/DNA case assignments completed for the approximately 1,200 law enforcement agencies across Illinois. Key project activities include: (1) outsourcing DNA casework to an accredited private laboratory, (2) providing overtime pay for state laboratory employees to process, screen, and analyze forensic DNA samples, and (3) purchasing crucial supplies needed to analyze forensic biology/DNA evidence. Expected outcomes include the analysis of 335 additional sexual assault cases by the private vendor, the completion of approximately 30,000 additional forensic biology/DNA case assignments by the Illinois State Police using overtime funding, and the procurement of vital supplies to sustain sample analysis. The grant award period is October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025.

The purpose is to increase the number of forensic biology/DNA case assignments completed for the approximate 1,200 law enforcement agencies located throughout the state of illinois. Project activities include the following: (1) outsource DNA casework to an accredited laboratory, (2) pay overtime to laboratory employees to process, screen and/or analyze forensic DNA samples, and (3) purchase critical supplies needed to analyze forensic biology/DNA evidence. Expected outcomes include the analysis of 335 additional sexual assault cases by a private vendor, the completion of approximately 30,000 forensic biology/DNA case assignments by ISP with the addition of overtime compensation, and the procurement of crucial supplies needed to ensure sample analysis. Law enforcement agencies, the victims and the families of the victims are the intended beneficiaries of the project.