EVIDENCE; LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS;

EVIDENCE;

You asked how the state could get federal funding to implement the expansion of the DNA database mandated by PA 03-242.

The U. S. Justice Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is implementing a new program to help states eliminate their DNA sample backlogs by having testing done by outside laboratories. On October 1, 2003 when PA 03-242 goes into effect, Connecticut will incur a significant backlog because samples will be taken from all felons, rather than only sex offenders. At that point, it will be eligible to enter a services agreement with the NIJ to eliminate it. Under the program, the federal agency will then put out a bid to outsource the testing and pay the selected private laboratory directly. The state will not get any funding directly from the NIJ.

Elaine Pagliaro from the Department of Public Safety’s forensic laboratory reports that the department is gathering the information it needs to participate in the backlog elimination program. She indicates that she is not sure when we might expect the services agreement process to be completed; apparently 38 other states are further along in the process than Connecticut is.

SP-L: eh/ts