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DNA lab short on cash, analysts
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by Keegan Kyle
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Department of Justice reported Monday that the State Crime Laboratory needs $7.7 million and 31 new analysts to eliminate its DNA backlog by 2010.
Although Gov. Jim Doyle has pledged funds in his biennial budget — which will be announced today — DOJ officials said emergency appropriations by Doyle could save the department millions of dollars.
DOJ spokesperson Kevin St. John said waiting six months for the state Legislature to approve Doyle's budget could waste both time and money for the crime lab.
"The purpose of the report is a neat analysis for what the department needs," St. John said. "The primary benefit [of emergency funding] is reducing the backlog sooner."
Emergency funding could also prove to be a financial benefit, St. John added, because the department could save hiring six additional analysts that would have to make up for lost time.
St. John estimated the department would save more than $350,000 each year if six additional analysts were not hired. The savings include annual salary and benefits, supplies and training costs.
Hiring 31 analysts — compared to 37 analysts six months later — could also save the DOJ a one-time $120,800 for equipment, St. John said.
Doyle spokesperson Carla Vigue said the governor will unveil his DOJ proposals in today's budget and will consider the department's emergency funding request.
St. John said the DOJ is optimistic and acknowledged that lower amounts of funding would be a step in a positive direction.
"Fifteen [new] positions would not even begin to cut into the backlog," St. John said. "It does begin to address the problem … but doesn't solve [it]…"
According to the DOJ report, the State Crime Lab backlog resulted from an increased use of DNA technology to investigate criminal cases.
By statute, the crime lab is required to analyze all DNA samples related to felony investigations submitted by district attorneys, the attorney general and other law enforcement officials. It is also required to process DNA evidence if requested by a defense attorney through a court order.
By the end of 2006, according to the DOJ report, 1,785 DNA cases were unprocessed.
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