The iowa department of public safety proposes to implement the DNA capacity enhancement backlog reduction formula award with the entire state of iowa comprising the service area and the citizens of…

The Iowa Department of Public Safety was awarded a $739,060 Formula Grant under the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036). The grant will be used to increase the capacity and reduce the backlog of the state's DNA case working and DNA databasing laboratories. Key activities include funding four additional staff, providing overtime for DNA analysts, purchasing equipment and a new CODIS server, and maintaining DNA analysis software licenses. The goal is to increase the number of CODIS-eligible DNA samples processed and submitted, which will enhance the state's forensic DNA analysis capabilities and benefit the citizens of Iowa through improved investigative support and reduced case turnaround times at the state crime laboratory. The grant period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

The iowa department of public safety proposes to implement the DNA capacity enhancement backlog reduction formula award with the entire state of iowa comprising the service area and the citizens of iowa being the intended beneficiaries. The purpose of this award would be to increase the number of combined DNA index system (codis) eligible samples developed by our DNA case working and DNA databasing laboratories. Project activities would include funding four employees to add additional capacity; providing overtime opportunities for DNA staff; purchasing equipment, a new codis server, and DNA database kits; and ongoing annual maintenance contracts for our strmix licenses. The expected outcome of being awarded this federal funding would be used to reduce the backlog and increase capacity of forensic biology/DNA cases and to reduce the backlog and increase capacity and capability in the databasing section. We also expect this funding to increase our laboratorys submission of DNA profiles into codis and benefit the citizens of the state of iowa with enhanced capabilities and stable turnaround times from our crime laboratory.