Report to the Attorney General on Delays in Forensic DNA Analysis
National Institute of Justice
Introduction
On August 21, 2001, Attorney General John Ashcroft directed the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to assess the existing analysis delays of crime scene DNA evidence and develop recommendations to eliminate those delays. Specifically, the Attorney General requested that the assessment and recommendations address, among other matters: (1) resource requirements for laboratory equipment; (2) resource, training, and education requirements for laboratory personnel; and (3) the use of innovative technologies that could permit speedier analysis with smaller equipment. He also directed NIJ to make recommendations for a national, comprehensive effort to eliminate the unacceptable delays currently occurring with the analysis of crime scene DNA evidence.
In response to this direction, NIJ convened a task force comprising a broad cross-section of criminal justice and forensic science experts. The DNA task force met on March 4, 2002, and October 21–22, 2002. At these meetings, the task force and NIJ staff discussed extensively the nature of DNA backlogs, the causes of those backlogs, and possible strategies for reducing the backlogs. The DNA task force had the benefit of hearing from a number of invited speakers, including representatives of the South African Police Service, scientific experts who have developed new technologies that may be used to streamline DNA analysis and address backlog reduction, and representatives from the Forensic Resource Network. In addition, NIJ has undertaken an assessment of the backlog of cases that have not been DNA tested in crime laboratories and law enforcement agencies. Although the assessment will not be finalized for several more months, preliminary figures have been provided to NIJ.