This laboratory services the nineteenth judicial circuit of florida, which is the intended beneficiary for this project

The County of St. Lucie, operating as the SLC Sheriff's Office, received a $191,387 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036). The purpose of this 2-year grant is to increase the number of biological crime scene samples processed for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) by the Indian River Crime Laboratory, which services the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

The key activities funded through this grant include maintaining DNA analysis personnel, replacing malfunctioning equipment, obtaining DNA analysis supplies and consumables, supporting laboratory accreditation and quality assurance requirements, and contracting for maintenance and software for DNA analysis instrumentation. These efforts will allow the laboratory to continue uploading DNA profiles to CODIS, maintain current operations, and prevent interruptions to processing crime scene samples for CODIS entry.

The nineteenth judicial circuit of florida includes martin, indian river, ST. Lucie, and okeechobee counties. The purpose of this proposed project is to increase the number of biological crime scene samples processed for combined DNA index system (codis) entry by addressing several challenges. To accomplish this proposed project, the laboratory will perform the following activities: maintain a formula DNA capacity enhancement for backlog reduction funded laboratory support personnel; replace a malfunctioning piece of equipment; obtain supplies and consumables involved in the DNA analysis process; maintain accreditation and, therefore, eligibility to upload DNA profiles into codis, by attending conferences to meet the federal bureau of investigations quality assurance standards (QAS) continuing education requirements and contracting for an on-site laboratory and QAS audit; and contract with instrument manufacturers for maintenance and service to DNA analysis instruments, maintaining licenses for evidence documentation software, and obtaining and implementing updated hardware involved in the DNA analysis and codis-upload processes. Accomplishing these activities will allow the laboratory to continue to upload profiles from crime scene samples to codis, maintain the laboratorys current operations with rising costs, help prevent interruptions to processing crime scene samples, and maintain the current capacity to process crime scene samples for upload into codis.