DNA backlog reduction strategy: Law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratory
In 2009, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Biology Unit developed an innovative DNA backlog strategy to construct and operate a centralized biological processing laboratory (BPL) within a law enforcement agency, the Boca Raton Police Services Department. The BPL became fully operationa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Forensic Science International: Synergy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X19301585 |
| _version_ | 1818380601677316096 |
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| author | Cecelia A. Crouse Tara Sessa Julie Sikorsky Dustin T. Yeatman Crystal Conway Caralee Daugherty Jeri D. Ropero-Miller |
| author_facet | Cecelia A. Crouse Tara Sessa Julie Sikorsky Dustin T. Yeatman Crystal Conway Caralee Daugherty Jeri D. Ropero-Miller |
| author_sort | Cecelia A. Crouse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2009, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Biology Unit developed an innovative DNA backlog strategy to construct and operate a centralized biological processing laboratory (BPL) within a law enforcement agency, the Boca Raton Police Services Department. The BPL became fully operational in 2012 and obtained accreditation in 2017. This coordinated, multi-agency agreement resulted in a streamlined process exemplifying several benefits such as communicating timely testing results, decreasing the case turnaround time, and decreasing the DNA case backlog. This paper provides a summary of the necessary considerations of location, construction, personnel, and services when constructing a BPL, as well as, provides a comparison of initial completion dates and ultimate completion dates over a three-year period from 2016 to 2018. Three LEAs submitted 613 cases to the BPL commensurate with jurisdictional population. Performance metrics such as types and number of criminal cases screened; the number of samples forwarded for PBSO DNA testing; the turnaround time to handle, screen, or analyze a forensic sample; evidentiary samples; and the number of profiles entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database are reported. For example, prior to this DNA backlog reduction strategy, the FBU was taking an average of 153 days to handle, screen, or analyze a forensic sample from submission to final report and there was a backlog of 679 cases. From 2016 to 2018, the total average turnaround time for BPL decreased from 30.5 to 19.6 days, (35.8% decrease); and the FBU Request turnaround time decreased from 153 to 80 days (35% decrease). Monitoring laboratory metrics demonstrate the efficacy of the DNA backlog reduction strategy.There are several takeaway lessons from this experience, including (1) engaging legal counsel early to outline necessary legal procedures and the timeline; (2) bringing all stakeholders “to the table” early to discuss expectations, as well as legal and operational responsibilities; and (3) creating a realistic timeline as well as establishing a comprehensive memorandum of understanding by which all parties understand their roles and responsibilities. Understanding laboratory and non-laboratory policy issues is critical to implementation success and the efficacy of a BPL as a DNA backlog reduction strategy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:21:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c4e84a2eac844abb3614326baa2c3b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2589-871X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:21:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Science International: Synergy |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c4e84a2eac844abb3614326baa2c3b12022-12-21T23:20:30ZengElsevierForensic Science International: Synergy2589-871X2020-01-0122431DNA backlog reduction strategy: Law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratoryCecelia A. Crouse0Tara Sessa1Julie Sikorsky2Dustin T. Yeatman3Crystal Conway4Caralee Daugherty5Jeri D. Ropero-Miller6Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory, 3228 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406, USAPalm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory, 3228 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406, USAPalm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory, 3228 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406, USAPalm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory, 3228 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406, USA; Corresponding author.Boca Raton Police Services Department, 100NW Boca Raton Blvd, Boca Raton, FL, 33432, USABoca Raton Police Services Department, 100NW Boca Raton Blvd, Boca Raton, FL, 33432, USARTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USAIn 2009, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Biology Unit developed an innovative DNA backlog strategy to construct and operate a centralized biological processing laboratory (BPL) within a law enforcement agency, the Boca Raton Police Services Department. The BPL became fully operational in 2012 and obtained accreditation in 2017. This coordinated, multi-agency agreement resulted in a streamlined process exemplifying several benefits such as communicating timely testing results, decreasing the case turnaround time, and decreasing the DNA case backlog. This paper provides a summary of the necessary considerations of location, construction, personnel, and services when constructing a BPL, as well as, provides a comparison of initial completion dates and ultimate completion dates over a three-year period from 2016 to 2018. Three LEAs submitted 613 cases to the BPL commensurate with jurisdictional population. Performance metrics such as types and number of criminal cases screened; the number of samples forwarded for PBSO DNA testing; the turnaround time to handle, screen, or analyze a forensic sample; evidentiary samples; and the number of profiles entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database are reported. For example, prior to this DNA backlog reduction strategy, the FBU was taking an average of 153 days to handle, screen, or analyze a forensic sample from submission to final report and there was a backlog of 679 cases. From 2016 to 2018, the total average turnaround time for BPL decreased from 30.5 to 19.6 days, (35.8% decrease); and the FBU Request turnaround time decreased from 153 to 80 days (35% decrease). Monitoring laboratory metrics demonstrate the efficacy of the DNA backlog reduction strategy.There are several takeaway lessons from this experience, including (1) engaging legal counsel early to outline necessary legal procedures and the timeline; (2) bringing all stakeholders “to the table” early to discuss expectations, as well as legal and operational responsibilities; and (3) creating a realistic timeline as well as establishing a comprehensive memorandum of understanding by which all parties understand their roles and responsibilities. Understanding laboratory and non-laboratory policy issues is critical to implementation success and the efficacy of a BPL as a DNA backlog reduction strategy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X19301585ForensicsBiologyLaw enforcementEvidenceSerologyDNA |
| spellingShingle | Cecelia A. Crouse Tara Sessa Julie Sikorsky Dustin T. Yeatman Crystal Conway Caralee Daugherty Jeri D. Ropero-Miller DNA backlog reduction strategy: Law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratory Forensic Science International: Synergy Forensics Biology Law enforcement Evidence Serology DNA |
| title | DNA backlog reduction strategy: Law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratory |
| title_full | DNA backlog reduction strategy: Law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratory |
| title_fullStr | DNA backlog reduction strategy: Law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratory |
| title_full_unstemmed | DNA backlog reduction strategy: Law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratory |
| title_short | DNA backlog reduction strategy: Law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratory |
| title_sort | dna backlog reduction strategy law enforcement agency partnerships for a successful biological screening laboratory |
| topic | Forensics Biology Law enforcement Evidence Serology DNA |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X19301585 |
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