With support from grant funding through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program, the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory Division (WSPCLD) achieved transformative improvements in efficiency, capacity, and service delivery resulting in a 91% reduction in their DNA backlog while simultaneously expanding access to forensic DNA testing statewide.
At the start of the grant period in late 2022, WSPCLD faced a significant challenge: more than 6,900 backlogged forensic biology/DNA cases pending analysis for longer than 30 days. Rather than focusing solely on short-term case completions, WSPCLD strategically and effectively leveraged CEBR funding alongside other funding streams to strengthen the foundation of their laboratory system. By investing in people, technology, and workflow modernization, WSPCLD increased their ability to process cases faster, more reliably, and at greater scale. By the end of their Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 CEBR grant in late 2025, WSPCLD’s backlog had been reduced to 581 cases, even as the laboratory completed over 16,200 DNA cases, exceeding the number of new submissions received during that same period.
CEBR funding supported three laboratory technician positions, providing critical support in quality control, instrument maintenance, cleaning, ordering, and administrative reviews. By shifting these essential but time-intensive tasks away from analysts, WSPCLD enabled forensic scientists to focus on analytical work and evidence processing. CEBR funds also supported a dedicated Information Technology (IT) position, ensuring stable, secure, and responsive support for WSPCLD’s increasing digital infrastructure. This role proved vital as the laboratory implemented new software, transitioned to paperless workflows, and modernized their data management systems.
CEBR funds enabled WSPCLD to replace ageing and obsolete DNA analysis software with modern tools that support greater automation and analytical capability. New and upgraded platforms including DNA analysis software and compliance management systems, as well as annual maintenance agreements for existing probabilistic genotyping software and new Rapid DNA instruments. These efforts improved both efficiency and reliability across the laboratory system and assisted WSPCLD to prepare to adopt these emerging advancements in technology. WSPCLD also advanced a paperless laboratory initiative, deploying laptops and tablets throughout laboratory spaces to enable contemporaneous electronic notetaking, embedded photography, and direct documentation of testing conclusions within their Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). These changes reduced administrative burden, improved documentation consistency and quality, and streamlined technical and administrative reviews.
As capacity increased and turnaround times decreased, WSPCLD was able to do more than reduce backlog; they expanded the scope of cases accepted for DNA analysis. In April 2024, WSPCLD broadened its acceptance criteria to include additional property crime cases, supporting investigations that previously were not eligible for DNA testing due to limited resources. Property crime submissions increased from 447 requests in 2021 to 687 requests in 2025 while completed property crime cases increased from 385 to 575 during the same timeframe. Notably, this expansion occurred while reducing overall backlog and maintaining compliance with legislative turnaround time requirements. This expansion allowed law enforcement agencies to pursue investigative leads that previously lacked DNA support, demonstrating how backlog reduction can directly enhance public safety and investigative outcomes.
CEBR funds also ensured that WSPCLD analysts were able to meet and exceed continuing education requirements. Dozens of staff participated in national conferences, specialized DNA training, population genetics courses, and root cause analysis and process mapping workshops. These opportunities helped staff remain current with evolving forensic technologies, strengthened internal expertise, and improved personnel morale and retention.
By the end of the grant period, WSPCLD:
- Decreased their DNA backlog from 6,926 cases to 581 cases.
- Completed 16,207 DNA cases, leveraging CEBR funding to support analyst overtime for 160 of these cases and their CEBR-funded outsourcing program for 26 of these cases.
- Uploaded 105 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) profiles, generating 31 hits through the CEBR-funded cases completed alone.
By focusing on sustainable capacity including staffing, technology, workflows, and training, WSPCLD transformed their operations and positioned the laboratory to handle future demand more effectively. Today, WSPCLD is not only operating with a dramatically reduced backlog, but also delivering faster results, accepting more case types, and providing higher value forensic services to the criminal justice system across the state of Washington.
