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| Making Sense of DNA Backlogs — Myths vs. Reality |
| By National Institute of Justice - Mark Nelson |
| Published: 07/05/2010 |
Definitions of backlogs
There is no industry-wide agreement about what constitutes a backlog; the National Institute of Justice defines a backlogged case as one that has not been tested 30 days after submission to the crime laboratory. Many crime laboratories, however, consider a case backlogged if the final report has not been provided to the agency that submitted the case. Which definition one uses naturally affects the count of cases backlogged. In addition to the definition of a backlog, identifying the type of backlog is also important. This report reviews the two types of DNA backlogs found in crime laboratories: Those of forensic evidence (also called backlog of DNA cases) and the backlog of DNA samples taken from convicted offenders and/or arrestees pursuant to state statutes. This report also reviews untested forensic DNA evidence in storage in law enforcement agencies. Nailing down exact numbers of backlogged cases is complicated by the dynamic nature of the business. Backlogs are not static. In many laboratories, new DNA submissions come in at a rate faster than case reports go out. This means that the backlog of cases pending analysis will increase. This does not mean that older cases will not be tested. Laboratories generally require more serious cases to be worked first, and the oldest cases in a backlog to be addressed before newer ones. Why demand is increasing The demand for DNA testing is rising primarily because of increased awareness of the potential for DNA evidence to help solve cases. The demand is coming from two primary sources: (1) the increased amount of DNA evidence that is collected in criminal cases and (2) the expanded effort to collect DNA samples from convicted felons and arrested persons. All states and the federal government have laws that require collecting DNA from convicted offenders. The federal government also requires collecting DNA from arrestees, and there is a growing trend among states to pass legislation to collect DNA samples from arrestees. Using federal funds to reduce backlogs Federal funds have been used to purchase automated workstations and high-throughput instruments, hire new personnel and validate more efficient procedures. Without this funding, the backlog picture would be much worse. NIJ has several programs to help laboratories address their workload. Some programs address overall DNA backlog reduction; others are specifically for testing samples from convicted offenders and arrestees. Some funds are used by laboratories for in-house processing of cases. Other funds are used by laboratories to outsource the work. NIJ also funds basic research and development to enhance testing processes. Until laboratories can meet the rising demand for DNA services and until their capacity to process samples is greater than the demand, backlogs will continue to exist and increase in proportion to the demand for services. Download the full NIJ report here. |
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