This funding opportunity, supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), aligns with the broader mission of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to promote civil rights, racial equity, increase access to justice, and strengthen community safety. The specific program focuses on providing resources to states and units of local government that operate existing crime laboratories capable of conducting DNA analysis.
The primary focus of this solicitation is to maximize the effective utilization of DNA technology to solve crimes and protect public safety. The target beneficiaries are existing crime laboratories and the communities they serve.
The immediate priorities of the grant are processing DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). This effort is intended to strengthen community safety and aid in building trust between law enforcement and the community by solving crimes.
The expected outcome of the program is the increased utilization of DNA technology, leading to more DNA samples being successfully processed and entered into CODIS. While specific measurable results are not detailed in this description, the overarching impact goal is the protection of public safety through the resolution of crimes utilizing advanced forensic capabilities.
