Upstate NY Crime Labs Get $345K to Clear Backlog of Unprocessed DNA Kits in Criminal Cases
The U.S. Senate recently announced that the federal government will be providing the Monroe County Crime Lab (MCCL) in Rochester, NY with more than $345,000 in funding so that law enforcement can clear up a major backlog of DNA kits from rape examinations, sexual assault investigations and other criminal cases.
The MCCL is scheduled to receive $345,144 in federal funds, which are designated to pay the salary of a forensic biologist who will focus on clearing up the crime lab’s DNA kit backlog. Any remaining funds will likely be used to cover the costs of necessary supplies and equipment, as well as training of crime lab employees.
The funds will be a welcome relief for MCCL workers who have struggled to keep up with the demand for DNA analysis in criminal cases. As a result of the influx of cases in recent years, the MCCL currently has a backlog of 156 samples still awaiting DNA analysis. That’s because the crime lab doesn’t just work with Monroe County police; the lab services 52 police departments and law enforcement agencies in eight counties throughout Upstate New York.
Untested Rape Kits are a Problem in Upstate New York and across the U.S.
The problems faced by the MCCL when it comes to performing DNA analysis in criminal cases are representative of a larger issue plaguing law enforcement and prosecutors across the nation: crime labs in practically every state lack the resources needed to handle DNA analyses. The MCCL, like many other crime labs, is presently underfunded and understaffed. Moreover, testing of rape kits is often cost prohibitive, with the cost of testing a single rape kit running as high as $1,000. As a result, many sexual assault cases go unprosecuted due to lack of sufficient evidence.
The hope is that the recent provision of funds by the U.S. Senate will solve the MCCL’s backlog problem and lead to more prosecutions, and convictions, in rape cases. Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the announcement of increased funding and said that the funds were being allocated to the MCCL through the National Institute of Justice’s DNA Backlog Reduction Program. According to Senator Gillibrand, the additional funding will ensure that the MCCL is able to conduct DNA analysis and help to move cases through the criminal justice system. Meanwhile, Senator Schumer predicted that the additional funds “will give the lab the resources it needs to analyze evidence samples more rapidly and accurately to solve crimes.”
The Senate’s allocation of funds to the MCCL comes on the heels of a recent declaration by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch that the federal government would be providing $41 million in grants to local crime labs to perform DNA tests on unprocessed rape kits. At the same time, the New York City District Attorney’s Office said that it would be providing $38 million to test rape kits. Officials estimate that more than 70,000 rape kits currently sitting in crime labs in 27 states will finally be tested as a result of the additional funding.
DNA is only one piece of the evidence puzzle when it comes to investigating crimes in New York. If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges, contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer at the LaDuca Law Firm in Rochester, NY, today for a consultation about your charges.
