The johnson county sheriffs office criminalistics laboratory (jcsocl) proposes to use 2024 capacity enhancement for backlog reduction funding to process crime scene samples for combined DNA index…

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office Criminalistics Laboratory (JCSOCL) received a $243,744 Formula Grant award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036). The funding will be used to enhance the JCSOCL's capacity to process crime scene samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Key objectives include:

• Retaining one full-time grant-funded Forensic Technician and one full-time grant-funded Forensic Scientist to work crime scene samples for CODIS entry
• Providing overtime for personnel to work on Biology/DNA analysis of crime scene samples for CODIS entry, including technical review
• Purchasing service and maintenance agreements for laboratory equipment like thermal cyclers and extraction robots to ensure uninterrupted sample processing

This award aims to increase the number of DNA samples the JCSOCL can process and enter into CODIS to support criminal investigations in Johnson County, Kansas, the state's most populous county with over 619,000 residents. The grant period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

The johnson county sheriffs office criminalistics laboratory (jcsocl) proposes to use 2024 capacity enhancement for backlog reduction funding to process crime scene samples for combined DNA index system (codis) entry and to increase capacity to process crime scene samples for codis entry. Johnson county is the most populous county in the state of kansas with an estimated population of 619,195 (2022 census.GOV). The jcsocl provides services at no cost to all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies within the county. The beneficiaries of this project are the citizens of johnson county. Continual improvements to efficiency have been made in the biology section including new technologies, automation, rapid screening techniques, and additional personnel. Even with these improvements, the jcsocl still receives more cases than IT has the capacity to work. The jcsocl has the following objectives: retain one full-time grant funded technician to work crime scene samples for codis entry; retain one full-time grant funded forensic scientist (DNA analyst) position to work crime scene samples for codis entry; provide overtime to personnel to work biology/DNA on crime scene samples for codis entry including technical review; and purchase service and maintenance agreements for six thermal cyclers and four maxwell 16 extraction robots. During the funding period the technician will be working cases in the technician capacity. Based on past productivity trends, IT is anticipated the technician will work approximately 354 cases and 1,168 samples. The forensic scientist is expected to complete DNA analysis training and begin casework in that capacity toward the end of 2025. Providing overtime for personnel has been a time proven approach to increase the number of crime scene samples for codis entry. Based on past grant overtime productivity, IT is estimated that approximately 157 cases and 455 samples will be completed using grant funded overtime. The annual maintenance contracts are necessary to ensure that samples continue being processed without interruption by the laboratory. Taken together these steps will enhance capacity and increase the number of DNA samples processed for codis entry.