The nebraska state patrol crime lab (nspcl) is a division of the nebraska state patrol (NSP)

The Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab (NSPCL) received a $724,647 Formula Grant award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program (CFDA 16.741). The funding will be used to: 1) reduce the backlog of forensic biology/DNA cases by supporting 5 dedicated forensic scientist positions; 2) maintain the turnaround time and backlog-free status of DNA database samples by continuing to fund a forensic scientist for database operations; 3) provide continuing education for DNA forensic scientists; and 4) purchase a RapidHIT DNA instrument. With this funding, the NSPCL expects to analyze 700-900 cases, reduce forensic case turnaround time to less than 3 months, and maintain a no-backlog status in the database section. This will enhance the NSPCL's capacity to routinely process DNA samples from criminal investigations across Nebraska.

The nspcl is responsible for analyzing evidence associated with criminal investigations for all state and local law enforcement agencies in the state of nebraska. The nspcl is accredited by the anab to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. In addition, the nspcl is mandated by state law to provide for DNA analysis on DNA samples collected from all convicted felony and certain qualifying misdemeanor offenders. The nspcl is responsible for storing and maintaining the resultant profiles in the nebraska data bank. The federal funding from this award will be used to achieve the following goals: 1) reduce the backlog of forensic biology/DNA cases through the funding of five forensic scientists positions dedicated to casework, 2) maintain the current turnaround time and backlog-free status of DNA database samples through the continued funding of the forensic scientist responsible for performing database operations, 3) provide continuing education to DNA forensic scientists as required by the accrediting bodies and 4) purchase a rapidhit DNA instrument. With the $724,647 made available through this project, the nspcl expects to analyze 700 to 900 cases, reduce the turnaround time of forensic cases to less than three months, and maintain the no backlog status in the database section. This will be done while increasing the ability of the nspcl to process samples routinely seen in casework today.