Survey of DNA Crime Laboratories
In calendar year 2000 publicly operated forensic crime laboratories that perform DNA analyses reported analyzing almost 25,000 cases which involved DNA evidence and over 148,000 DNA samples collected from persons convicted of a crime. These are increases over the approximately 14,000 cases and 45,000 convicted offender samples reported analyzed in 1997. As of January 2001, 81% of DNA crime laboratories reported DNA analyses backlogs totaling 16,081 subject cases and 265,329 convicted offender samples. To complete DNA case and convicted offender sample analyses, 45% of the crime laboratories surveyed contracted private laboratories. Those private laboratories had a reported backlog of 918 subject cases and 100,706 convicted offender samples.
DNA Crime Laboratory Survey Highlights
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In 2000 DNA crime laboratories received about 31,000 subject cases, an increase from almost 21,000 cases in 1999. Cases with identified suspects accounted for almost three-quarters of the total in both 1999 and 2000.
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The DNA crime laboratories analyzed almost 16,000 subject cases in 1999 and 25,000 cases in 2000. About 80% of the cases analyzed in both 1999 and 2000 were known subject cases.
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At the beginning of 2001, 81% of DNA crime laboratories had backlogs totaling 16,081 subject cases and 265,329 convicted offender samples.
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The number of full-time staff in DNA laboratories ranged from 1 to 60 with a median staff of 6. A majority of full-time employees (88%) were on the technical staff.
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All DNA laboratories received DNA case samples from local police and sheriffs' offices. About half received samples from State police (56%) and medical examiners (48%).
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Forty-five percent of laboratories reported contracting a private laboratory to do forensic DNA testing in 2000. They contracted 944 subject cases and 204,359 convicted offender samples.
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A third of the DNA laboratories that contracted with private facilities, reported private lab backlogs at the start of 2001 totaling 918 subject cases and 100,706 convicted offender samples.
These findings come from the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2001 National Study of DNA Laboratories, the second national survey of publicly operated forensic crime laboratories that perform DNA testing. Information from the initial survey was reported in 2000. This follow-up to the initial survey obtained data from 110 of the approximately 120 known public forensic DNA laboratories.
As part of their DNA Laboratory Improvement Program, the National Institute of Justice funded the initial 1998 survey to help identify workload and technology issues.
