The two DNA forensic laboratories in the state of nevada, LAS vegas metropolitan police department (lvmpd) and washoe county sheriffs office (wcso), have mutually agreed to split the BJA FY24…

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) was awarded a $648,764 Formula Grant under the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) FY24 Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program (CFDA 16.036). The grant funding will be used by LVMPD's Forensic Laboratory Biology/DNA Detail to reduce their DNA case backlog and decrease turnaround time. Key activities include:

• Funding overtime for forensic scientists to process and review DNA cases in-house
• Purchasing equipment such as DNA extraction robots, bone pulverization equipment, and supporting instrument maintenance and calibration
• Sending DNA staff to conferences to fulfill continuing education requirements
• Expecting to process at least 130 additional DNA cases in-house, which is anticipated to reduce the overall LVMPD DNA case backlog by 30 days and increase their DNA processing capacity by an average of 5 samples per forensic scientist per month.

The goal of this funding is to enhance LVMPD's forensic DNA analysis capabilities to support criminal investigations and prosecutions across Clark County, Esmeralda County, Lincoln County, and Nye County in Nevada.

The two DNA forensic laboratories in the state of nevada, LAS vegas metropolitan police department (lvmpd) and washoe county sheriffs office (wcso), have mutually agreed to split the BJA FY24 formula DNA capacity enhancement for backlog reduction (cebr) program grant funds. The lvmpd, criminalistics bureau, forensic laboratory biology/DNA detail is faced with budgetary constraints and case backlogs. The requested federal funding is needed for lvmpd to reduce the backlog of biology/DNA cases and decrease case turnaround time.overtime funds will be used to reimburse costs for forensic scientists who process and review DNA cases in-house. Funds will assist the biology/DNA detail to purchase three EZ2 extraction robots and power supplies, a tissuelyser III for bone pulverization, and to ensure accurate laboratory capabilities through semi-annual pipette calibration and instrument/software maintenance. The grant will aid the agency in fulfilling the federal bureau of investigations quality assurance standards DNA continuing education requirements by sending DNA staff to conferences. Lvmpds biology/DNA detail expects to process at least 130 cases in-house with federal funded overtime.by utilizing overtime, processing cases in-house will reduce the overall backlog of lvmpd DNA cases, with the goal of reducing case turnaround time by 30 days. This should also increase the capacity of the biology/DNA detail by an average of five samples per forensic scientist per month.grants funds will benefit the lvmpd forensic laboratory by increasing the turnaround time and will give law enforcement investigators the advantage of finding suspects in a more expeditious manner to stop the perpetrator from reoffending in the community. The intended beneficiaries of the lvmpd forensic laboratory biology/DNA detail, the only accredited publicly funded lab for law enforcement agencies in southern nevada, and the bureau of justice assistance FY24 formula DNA capacity enhancement for backlog reduction program include police agencies and citizens located in clark county, esmeralda county, lincoln county, and NYE county, nevada.