Backlogs and Their Impact on the Criminal Justice System - Panel at the 2010 NIJ Conference

• NCJ Number: 234786
• Author(s): Gerry LaPorte; Joseph L. Peterson; Kevin J. Strom; Joseph L. Peterson; Dean M. Gialamas; Jeffrey Nye
• Date Published: June 2010
• Length: 14 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Conference Material

Annotation

This audio and accompanying transcript cover panel presentations on evidence-analysis backlogs and their impact on the criminal justice system, as part of the NIJ 2010 Conference.

Abstract

One presenter reports on his NIJ-sponsored study that documented high caseloads, long backlogs, and severe budgetary and personnel needs among forensic labs. He mentions research that examined the backlog of sexual assault kits in crime laboratories. A second presenter reports on a NIJ-sponsored survey conducted last year that focused on forensic-evidence processing in State and local law enforcement agencies. The primary objective was to estimate the number of unsolved violent homicide and rape cases, as well as property cases that contained some form of forensic evidence, but that were not submitted to a crime laboratory for some reason. Capacity issues in law enforcement agencies' case processing are discussed. Another presenter discusses the evolution of the backlog of cases in Los Angeles County and what is currently being done about it. A presenter experienced in DNA testing discusses his experience working in a project that is addressing the backlog of untested sexual assault kits in the Detroit Police Department.