The king county sheriffs office intends to utilize the grant funds to purchase a rapid instrument, required hardware, software & materials, and training for the system

The King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) received a $811,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753). The grant funding will be used to purchase a Rapid DNA instrument, supporting hardware and software, and provide training to enable KCSO to quickly process DNA evidence for local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. This technology will significantly improve public safety by reducing the current backlog at the federal crime lab and allowing KCSO to make faster and more accurate identifications, leading to the apprehension of more criminals and exoneration of the wrongly accused. The grant will be implemented over a 3-year period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The grant funded technology will support better access to process DNA for local, state, and federal agencies. Currently, law enforcement in the seattle region is utilizing the federal crime lab which has a lengthy backlog for most cases and, at times, will not accept a property crime case for processing. The rapid DNA technology has been developed and approved under FBI guidance to process DNA within 90 minutes. Law enforcement agencies across the country have started using rapid DNA to make quick and accurate identifications that will drastically improve public safety and save time and resources, catch more criminals and exonerate those wrongly accused. This project will follow the guidelines provided in the department of justice (FBI) published noncodis rapid DNA considerations and best practices for law enforcement use.