Given the success and subsequent increased demand for supporting DNA evidence, timely DNA processing of evidence for less violent crime types is impacted

The City of Concord, North Carolina was awarded a $1,128,000 Project Grant by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753). The funding will support the implementation of a Rapid DNA Investigative Leads Program in partnership with Bode Technologies Group. Key project activities include purchasing and installing Rapid DNA systems, integrating the technology into a secure network, conducting end-to-end integration testing, providing personnel training, and coordinating the program with participating agencies. The expected outcomes include enhancing investigative leads, increasing operational efficiency, improving public safety, strengthening criminal justice outcomes, and easing the burden on the forensic crime laboratory. The project period is from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028.

These delays can lead to slower or missed suspect identification; inefficient or missed investigative leads, lower solve rates, and compromise public safety. The city of concord police department proposes to implement a rapid DNA investigative leads program in partnership with the bode technologies group to automate the testing process for single-source and reference samples to help generate timely investigative leads, eliminate and identify suspects, avoid unnecessary arrests and make swift identifications of unidentified human remains improving investigative and operational efficiencies and outcomes for both law enforcement and the forensic crime laboratory. Additionally, community relationships shall improve when potential suspects are quickly eliminated and identified with forensic science methods that minimize the potential for racial and other socio-economic biases. All of these benefits serve public safety and help create safer communities. Project activities include implementing policies and procedures that adhere to the non-codis rapid DNA considerations and best practices for law enforcement use; purchase and installation of the rapid DNA systems; integration of the rapid DNA information to a dedicated, secure network; end-to-end integration testing; personnel training; and program management/ coordination with supporting and participating agencies to ensure the highest quality program. Expected outcomes include ensuring adherence to non-codis rapid DNA considerations and best practices, enhanced investigative leads, increased operational efficiency, improved public safety, strengthened criminal justice outcomes and longer-term tax dollar savings. Additionally, implementing the rapid DNA programs will help ease the burden on the laboratory to focus on more complex casework and operational and technology enhancements. All of which will benefit the residents of the concord, NC, the surrounding region, and ultimatelyall residents of north carolina.