Florida clears DNA backlog

The State of California has cleared its backlog of DNA crime scene evidence as part of an effort to speed up analysis and see quicker criminal prosecutions.

Attorney General Kamala Harris said in a statement that the California Department of Justice has now cleared all backlogged cases.

This is the first time in the history of the Bureau of Forensic Services to have all evidence tested, she said.

The clear-up means labs will now be able to perform routine analysis within 30 days, significantly down from an average of 90 to 120 days.

New lab technology has been introduced to greatly increase the speed at which cases are analysed.

Using robotics, an extraction method in analysis of sexual assault evidence that once took two days now takes only two hours.

California's data bank contains DNA profiles for 1.8 million criminals and suspects in the state.

"DNA testing is a powerful law enforcement resource – a smart-on-crime tool that we're using in cutting edge ways in California," said Ms Harris.

"Public safety is too important not to embrace innovation and adopt technology where needed."

Published by Fiona Griffiths