Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Department of Justice has awarded $366,885 to Monroe County under the DNA Backlog Reduction Program to cut DNA backlogs and increase the efficiency of DNA analysis. Monroe County will use the funding to increase capacity and accuracy within their DNA testing laboratory, and reduce the existing backlog of unprocessed DNA samples, which has burdened the efficiency of the criminal justice system for years.
“DNA research is an increasingly vital and integral part of forensic research, and therefore law enforcement,” said Senator Schumer. “These funds will assist the laboratories across Monroe County in analyzing evidence samples more rapidly and accurately to solve crimes and keep our families safe.”
“This is a key investment for law enforcement in Monroe County,” Senator Gillibrand said. “When we reduce the DNA backlog, we can hold more dangerous criminals accountable, keep predators off our streets and locked up, and keep our families safe.”
In September 2012, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand announced that Monroe County received $278,224 from the Department of Justice for the DNA Backlog Reduction Program.
The Department of Justice and National Institute of Justice DNA Backlog Reduction Program furthers the Department’s mission by providing States and units of local government with tools needed to meet the challenges associated with crime and bringing criminals to justice. Specifically, this program seeks to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services, including services provided by laboratories operated by States and units of local government. These improvements are critical to preventing future DNA backlogs and to helping the criminal justice system to utilize the full potential of DNA technology.