Illinois DNA backlog eliminated  

[JULY 7, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Tuesday that the Illinois State Police has officially eliminated the DNA case backlog -- DNA cases awaiting analysis in the laboratory more than 30 days. Existing more than five years, the state's backlog of DNA cases awaiting analysis reached as many as nearly 2,000 cases at one point in 2001. The elimination is a result of the Blagojevich administration's efforts to secure both state and federal dollars to allow for more rapid analysis of DNA cases in-house as well as outsourcing to a private vendor.

"DNA technology is one of the most important tools law enforcement has to fight crime," Blagojevich said. "By eliminating the DNA backlog, more cases can be solved and the criminals can be prosecuted. The state police's laboratory system should be commended for their efforts to reduce the backlog of cases."

DNA cases awaiting analysis began to backlog in the summer of 1999. The backlog increased every year and reached its height in 2001, when 1,997 cases awaited analysis. In 2002, the backlog persisted at 1,460. In 2003, the backlog began to significantly decline, after Blagojevich and the Illinois State Police launched a number of long-term and short-term initiatives to eliminate it, including:

• Hiring sufficient forensic scientists and evidence technicians.
• Aggressively obtaining federal grant funding.
• Outsourcing DNA samples, using both state and federal funding.
• Educating police and prosecutors to triage crime evidence by submitting the most probative evidence.
• Prioritizing cases.

During fiscal 2004, Blagojevich directed $2.6 million for private analysis of DNA cases while 13 new forensic scientists were in training. Also in 2004, the Illinois State Police instituted a new approach to reduce the DNA training period from 24 months to 18 months. Additionally, the governor approved hiring six DNA evidence technicians with funds secured through three Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority grants and one National Institute of Justice grant, for a total of $1.7 million.

In fiscal 2005, the governor again directed $2.6 million to be used for DNA case outsourcing while the 13 scientists continued their training. Also during fiscal 2005, the Illinois State Police received two National Institute of Justice grants and a grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, totaling $3.6 million.

"Today's good news means law enforcement and criminal justice agencies can expect most DNA case evidence worked by our labs to be analyzed in 30 days," said Illinois State Police Director Larry G. Trent. "The quicker case evidence can be processed, the sooner criminals can be removed from society and placed behind bars."

The Illinois State Police forensic science laboratory system, established in 1942, is recognized as the third-largest crime laboratory system in the world, following the Forensic Science Services in Great Britain and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C. The system, encompassing eight operational laboratories and a research and development laboratory, provides crime scene and forensic science services to about 1,500 criminal justice agencies throughout Illinois.

[News release from the governor's office]