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| THE PROBLEM: DNA PROCESSING |
| DNA throughout the years has been facing a rather difficult issue. It began around 1993 during the expansion of the database. Law enforcers believe that by expanding the database the more crimes will be solved. But due to increasing the database and the amount of evidence that they are being required to test, they have been overwhelmed with evidence. Since the past eleven years the labs nationwide have had loads of DNA samples piling up each year on shelves, begging for testing. Although since DNA testing is expensive it has been putting them farther behind. Because the DNA testing is so expensive and has been piling up the lab technitions have been struggling with keeping up, which has led to sloppy work. Due to their insignificant and inaccurate work, many innocent people have been accused of crimes they did not commit. |
| Although these labs have been dealing with a very intense struggle they have been recieveing much help. For instance many federal fundings have been supplied to labs to help them catch up with their work load. They have had non-stop positive outcomes. During June 2003, crime labs recieved a funding program known as the NIJ program which was suppost to help eliminate backlog. But what they expected did not happen how they planned it would, it resulted better. A ten year backlog was eliminated in twelve months! That is incredible and they are continuing to see positive outcomes. |
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| For additional information you can visit the following websites: *www.innocenceproject.org *www.fbi.edgesuite.net *www.crimelabproject.com |
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| DNA processing is continuing still even with the backlog. Although the backlog is still occuring it comtinues to improve! |