The albuquerque police department (APD) crime laboratory DNA unit is focused on forensic casework analysis and serves the city of albuquerque in new mexico

The City of Albuquerque Police Department (APD) was awarded a $490,190 Formula Grant under the Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036) by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. The grant, effective from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026, will support the APD Crime Laboratory's DNA Unit and the New Mexico DNA Identification System (NMDIS) Unit to increase the efficiency of forensic DNA analysis and reduce backlogs. Key activities include hiring temporary and full-time staff to assist with administrative duties, procuring materials for DNA extraction, quantitation, amplification, and analysis, outsourcing database sample analysis, and providing continuing education for personnel. The ultimate goal is to process more DNA samples and increase the searchable offender and arrestee database to aid criminal investigations and make the city and state safer.

The APD crime laboratory new mexico DNA identification system (nmdis) unit is the record keeper of offender and arrestee DNA profiles for the state of new mexico and thus serves all law enforcement entities.APD proposes to use the capacity enhancement for backlog reduction grant funding to increase the efficiency of the DNA unit and the nmdis unit. The ultimate goal of the project is to process more DNA samples and reduce the number of forensic and DNA database samples awaiting analysis and/or upload to the combined DNA identification system (codis). These goals will be pursued via providing basic infrastructure support to assist with the processes of DNA analysis for both casework and databasing, and providing appropriate training of crime laboratory DNA unit personnel. The project deliverables include the hiring both part-time temporary and grant funded full-time city employees to assist with fiscal, technical, and administrative duties, allowing the DNA analysts to focus on casework, database maintenance, and the training of new hires. APD also plans to procure materials to conduct the basic processes of DNA analysis: extraction, quantitation, amplification, and analysis. The nmdis unit will be utilizing funds to outsource database samples for analysis. Additionally, the grant will support continuing education for personnel to meet mandated continuing education requirements. As a result, DNA analysis and databasing will be used to expand the searchable offenders and arrestee database, and aid investigations to identify, convict, and exonerate individuals charged with criminal offenses, making the city of albuquerque and the state of new mexico a safer place to live.