The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency, a local government agency, was awarded a $713,102 DNA Backlog Reduction Program formula grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance. This 2-year grant, effective October 1, 2023, supports the agency's provision of forensic laboratory services to the Indianapolis, Marion County, state, and federal criminal justice systems. The funding will enable the agency's ISO 17025 accredited forensic science laboratory to process more DNA samples, implement process improvements, and provide staff training to increase capacity and reduce backlogs. The grant supplements the agency's annual budget, which has faced challenges in recent years due to local funding constraints. Additionally, the agency has received sub-awards from the Indiana Judiciary Courts and the City of Indianapolis to assist in reducing gun violence and violent crimes through timely forensic analysis of firearms, latent prints, and DNA evidence.
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