SPOKANE, Wash.-A new grant will increase the Washington State Patrol’s Crime Lab Division DNA casework and testing capacity.
Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington announced the grant of $2,245,651 from the Department of Justice on October 20.
The WSP Crime Laboratory Division (WSPCLD) consists of five casework DNA labs and is the established public provider of forensic DNA in the state according to a DOJ press release. WSPCLD provides forensic DNA casework services and houses the CODIS system, the local, state and national DNA database.
“It is critical that we work together – with our state and local law enforcement partners – to address the growing need for DNA casework,” said Attorney Waldref in announcing the grant.
With the grant funding the WSPCLD hopes to increase its capacity to meet the steady rise of submissions, reduce the backlog of samples needing testing, and grow the CODIS database according to a press release on the grant.
“This award will fund critical services to better assist with DNA processing and support my office’s mission to seek justice on behalf of all citizens in Eastern Washington,” Waldref said.
