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Committee approves DOJ DNA capacity enhancement grant to outsource about 180 assault kits, officials say backlog near resolution
Summary
The committee approved a resolution to accept a DOJ DNA capacity enhancement grant that will allow the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to outsource roughly 180 sexual-assault kits to private vendors while the department continues in-house processing and review.
The Budget & Finance Committee approved a resolution authorizing an application for a U.S. Department of Justice DNA capacity enhancement grant to reduce the forensic backlog by outsourcing sexual-assault kits to private vendors.
Councilwoman Allen asked how many kits would be processed under the arrangement and whether the department’s in-house lab capacity would be overwhelmed. Chris Gilder of the Metro Nashville Police Department said the grant would allow the city to outsource “approximately a 180 of our kits.” He added that the department has added and trained staff this year and that the intention is to process incoming kits in house next year, while scientists will still review outsourced results and enter eligible profiles into CODIS.
The committee approved the resolution; members noted prior grants and partnerships that together make it likely the department will substantially reduce the backlog, but no firm completion date was given during the meeting.
