Backlog of DNA Samples
One of the biggest problems facing the criminal justice system today is the substantial backlog of unanalyzed DNA samples and biological evidence from crime scenes.
The state and local backlog problem has two components:
- Casework sample backlogs consist of DNA samples obtained from crime scenes, victims, and suspects in criminal cases.
- Convicted offender backlogs consist of DNA samples obtained from convicted offenders who are incarcerated or under supervision.
The number of samples awaiting analysis is constantly changing and affected by statues, available resources and crimes committed. Measuring the precise number of unanalyzed DNA samples is prohibitively difficult.
While there is no single comprehensive resource that lists or estimates the number of samples awaiting analysis in state, local or Federal laboratories, efforts have been made to estimate and characterize the backlogs of convicted offender and casework samples.
