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CBI DNA backlog: agency says new hires and outsourcing will halve turnaround, full recovery by early 2027
Summary
Colorado Bureau of Investigation told the JBC it will cut DNA case backlog and turnaround times in half by early 2026 with hires and contractor help; it estimates reaching a 90‑day turnaround by early 2027 but said faster progress would require more staffing, training time and possibly sign‑on incentives.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) leadership told the Joint Budget Committee the agency expects to reduce its DNA testing backlog and turnaround times significantly after recent funding and hiring but that the work will take time.
CBI deputy director told the committee the department has completed work to hire and train additional forensic scientists and that, with the recently funded positions and an outsourcing plan with partner labs, the backlog of unprocessed DNA cases currently on the books should be completed by the end of the calendar year. He said that, with the new staff and contracted support, CBI would cut overall turnaround times in half by February 2026 and reach an average turnaround time of about 90 days by early 2027.
Committee members pressed for faster outcomes. Several asked whether additional funding targeted at signing bonuses, hiring experienced staff from the private sector or federal agencies, or expanded outsourcing could accelerate the timeline. CBI officials said experienced forensic scientists are scarce nationwide, that training a new DNA scientist typically takes up to two years, and that while hiring experienced staff would help, available experienced candidates are limited. CBI said it has about 16 scientists working cases and 15 in training; seven of the trainees’ schedules were delayed by work on a high‑profile review, which slowed training progress but is now resolved.
Lawmakers and CBI agreed that longer‑term solutions include building bench strength through training pipelines, increasing pay where feasible, and exploring sign‑on incentives or other hiring tools. CBI also described a mix of contractors, case assistants and social‑worker roles it uses to reduce per‑case attorney hours and to increase throughput. The committee requested costings for accelerated hiring options and asked for follow‑up information to assess whether a larger investment now could shorten the recovery timeline.
CBI representatives noted continuing efforts to improve transparency and metrics; staff said they would provide the committee with a more detailed schedule for the phased reductions in backlog and the annualized cost for options to accelerate the timeline.
