Fiscal Year 2015 Funding for DNA Analysis, Capacity Enhancement and Other Forensic Activities

• NCJ Number: 249905
• Date Published: September 2016
• Author(s): Gerald Laporte; Heather Waltke; Charles Heurich
• Length: 16 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic); Program/Project Evaluation; Grants and Funding

Annotation

This report highlights activities funded under the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) appropriation under the Department of Justice Appropriations Act of 2015, with a focus on the allocation of funds for DNA and other forensic activities, including the impact of these efforts on the criminal justice system.

Abstract

Under the Department of Justice Appropriations Act of 2015, $117,000,000 was for a DNA analysis and capacity-enhancement program, as well as other local, State, and Federal forensic activities. From this amount, $103.9 million was made available to NIJ for grants, contracts, and interagency agreements in three broad categories. These were 1) direct funding for, or in support of, State and local police departments and crime laboratories; 2) research, development testing, and evaluation; and 3) other training and technical assistance. Of the $103.9 million, approximately 67 percent went directly to crime laboratories, law enforcement agencies, and police departments for processing, recording, screening, and analyzing forensic DNA and/or DNA database samples; increasing the capacity of forensic laboratories; reducing the backlog of samples awaiting DNA analysis; and identifying missing persons. Twenty-six percent of available funding went to developing highly discriminating , accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and rapid methods for the identification, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence. Six percent was allocated to technical assistance to improve the use of DNA and other forensic sciences. Due to these efforts, forensic science laboratory capacity continues to increase; advancements in research and development are producing more cost-efficient, accurate, and reliable techniques; and innovative technologies are enabling law enforcement agencies to solve violent crimes, investigate cold cases, reunite missing persons with their families, and assist in exonerating the innocent. 1 figure and 14 notes