The new mexico department of public safety (nmdps) is requesting federal capacity enhancement for backlog reduction funding to continue its forensic DNA backlog reduction project

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) was awarded a $300,437 Formula Grant under the Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036) administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The purpose of this grant is to enhance NMDPS's forensic DNA testing capabilities and reduce their backlog of 2,445 DNA cases. Project activities will include training for DNA laboratory staff, providing strategic overtime, purchasing lab supplies, and outsourcing DNA testing for non-violent cases. Expected outcomes include significantly increasing NMDPS's capacity to process, record, screen, and analyze forensic DNA, while decreasing their DNA case backlog. This project will benefit law enforcement agencies, district attorneys' offices, and citizens across the state of New Mexico by improving the efficiency of the criminal justice system through timely forensic DNA analysis.

The purpose of the program is to process backlogged crime scene samples for combined DNA index system (codis) entry and increase the nmdps forensic laboratory bureaus (FLB) capacity to process these crime scene samples for codis entry. The nmdps FLB has a current backlog of 2,445 DNA cases due to factors such as higher than average violent and property crime rates, little state funding, newly identified previously untested (backlog) sexual assault kits, new legislation, and a high forensic scientist position vacancy rate. Project activities will include training for forensic DNA laboratory staff, providing strategic overtime to lab employees, purchasing lab supplies, and outsourcing DNA testing for non-violent cases. Expected outcomes include significantly increasing the nmdps flbs capacity to process, record, screen, and analyze forensic DNA while decreasing the forensic DNA case backlog. This project will greatly benefit the nmdps FLB, law enforcement agencies and district attorneys offices throughout the state, and citizens who have been harmed by violence who are awaiting justice.