15PBJA24GG01880DNAX
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
The mission of the Utah Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Forensic Services (UBFS) is to provide a safe and secure environment for the citizens of Utah through the application of forensic science.
The goal of the Forensic Biology Section is to provide quality and impartial forensic biological analysis in a prompt manner.
The laboratory provides accurate and sound science during forensic biology and DNA analysis, while striving to maintain a rapid response to analysis requests.
UBFS maintains three laboratories throughout the state of Utah: Central, Northern, and Southern laboratories.
Both the Central and Southern laboratories house biology sections and are responsible for analyzing and processing forensic DNA samples.
Only the Central laboratory stores, accessions, analyzes, and maintains all DNA databasing samples for the state.
UBFS strives to implement new and innovative ways to process case and databasing samples and provide information on the analysis of these samples to public safety agencies throughout Utah.
UBFS continues to see an increase in databasing sample submissions and recently (April 2024) brought databasing sample analysis in-house in order to facilitate a shorter turnaround time from submission to upload into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.
While UBFS has implemented a laboratory information management system for casework, the system is not built to function effectively for databasing.
For tracking of databasing samples (submission date, status, and turnaround time metrics) UBFS uses a series of Excel spreadsheets and continues to store and record much of the information regarding each sample on paper.
Based on a risk assessment approach, the use of a more automated, traceable, and searchable system, built for purpose, is needed.
The funding from this award will be used to purchase, implement, and maintain a new laboratory information management system module specifically intended for the UBFS CODIS unit to improve the capacity, quality, and efficiency of processing offender samples for entry into CODIS and for administering CODIS hits.
UBFS works to continue to reduce forensic and databasing sample turnaround times and continues to make improvements and strategize to use the CEBR program funds to help reach our goals.
The goal of the Forensic Biology Section is to provide quality and impartial forensic biological analysis in a prompt manner.
The laboratory provides accurate and sound science during forensic biology and DNA analysis, while striving to maintain a rapid response to analysis requests.
UBFS maintains three laboratories throughout the state of Utah: Central, Northern, and Southern laboratories.
Both the Central and Southern laboratories house biology sections and are responsible for analyzing and processing forensic DNA samples.
Only the Central laboratory stores, accessions, analyzes, and maintains all DNA databasing samples for the state.
UBFS strives to implement new and innovative ways to process case and databasing samples and provide information on the analysis of these samples to public safety agencies throughout Utah.
UBFS continues to see an increase in databasing sample submissions and recently (April 2024) brought databasing sample analysis in-house in order to facilitate a shorter turnaround time from submission to upload into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.
While UBFS has implemented a laboratory information management system for casework, the system is not built to function effectively for databasing.
For tracking of databasing samples (submission date, status, and turnaround time metrics) UBFS uses a series of Excel spreadsheets and continues to store and record much of the information regarding each sample on paper.
Based on a risk assessment approach, the use of a more automated, traceable, and searchable system, built for purpose, is needed.
The funding from this award will be used to purchase, implement, and maintain a new laboratory information management system module specifically intended for the UBFS CODIS unit to improve the capacity, quality, and efficiency of processing offender samples for entry into CODIS and for administering CODIS hits.
UBFS works to continue to reduce forensic and databasing sample turnaround times and continues to make improvements and strategize to use the CEBR program funds to help reach our goals.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF BJA'S FY 2024 COMPETITIVE DNA CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT FOR BACKLOG REDUCTION (CEBR) PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST STATES AND UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH EXISTING CRIME LABORATORIES TO SOLVE CRIMES AND PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY BY MAXIMIZING THE EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF DNA TECHNOLOGY TO PROCESS DNA SAMPLES FOR THE FBI'S COMBINED DNA INDEX SYSTEM (CODIS). THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FAIRLY AND EFFICIENTLY PRIORITIZE JURISDICTIONS FACING CHALLENGES IN ADDRESSING BACKLOGS BY CONSIDERING KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS REPORTED BY PUBLICLY FUNDED FORENSIC DNA LABORATORIES.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Salt Lake City,
Utah
84129-5928
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Utah Department Of Public Safety was awarded
Project Grant 15PBJA24GG01880DNAX
worth $635,000
from the Bureau of Justice Assistance in October 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Salt Lake City Utah United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 16.036 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity BJA FY24 Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 11/7/24
Period of Performance
10/1/24
Start Date
9/30/26
End Date
Funding Split
$635.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$635.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
15PBJA24GG01880DNAX
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI NOT AVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
State Government
Awarding Office
15PBJA OJP BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE
Funding Office
15PBJA OJP BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE
Awardee UEI
KNKAVN81K1P9
Awardee CAGE
32MX1
Performance District
UT-04
Senators
Mike Lee
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Modified: 11/7/24