Lofgren Announces Two Grants to Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Laboratory for DNA Proc
September 29, 2005
Media Contact: David Thomas, 202.225.3072
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D - San Jose) today announced that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Laboratory has been awarded two grants to assist the processing of DNA evidence. The Crime Laboratory received a $96,492 dollar grant to increase the lab’s capacity to process DNA evidence, and a $79,937 dollar grant to reduce the backlog of cases involving DNA evidence.
“Providing funding for DNA technology is important aspect of crime reduction efforts,” Congresswoman Lofgren said. “Currently, there are over 170 backlogged samples in the Crime Laboratory. This grant will allow the lab to hire an additional forensic scientist to process those cases and help prevent a backlog in the future.” In addition to this earmarked funding, Congresswoman Lofgren explained that “the DNA Capacity Enhancement grant will allow the lab to update its infrastructure so that DNA samples can be processed efficiently and cost-effectively. Both of these efforts are important areas to focus our attention on as we seek to identify or exonerate suspects, and bring the guilty to justice.”
The grants are a part of Congresswoman Lofgren’s broader efforts to effectively implement and support the use of technology in the criminal process. The Congresswoman recently announced her co-sponsorship of HR 1602, the “Grants for DNA Backlogs Prosecution” bill. This bipartisan bill will provide funding for the prosecution of cases which have already been solved using DNA technology.
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D - San Jose) today announced that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Laboratory has been awarded two grants to assist the processing of DNA evidence. The Crime Laboratory received a $96,492 dollar grant to increase the lab’s capacity to process DNA evidence, and a $79,937 dollar grant to reduce the backlog of cases involving DNA evidence.
“Providing funding for DNA technology is important aspect of crime reduction efforts,” Congresswoman Lofgren said. “Currently, there are over 170 backlogged samples in the Crime Laboratory. This grant will allow the lab to hire an additional forensic scientist to process those cases and help prevent a backlog in the future.” In addition to this earmarked funding, Congresswoman Lofgren explained that “the DNA Capacity Enhancement grant will allow the lab to update its infrastructure so that DNA samples can be processed efficiently and cost-effectively. Both of these efforts are important areas to focus our attention on as we seek to identify or exonerate suspects, and bring the guilty to justice.”
The grants are a part of Congresswoman Lofgren’s broader efforts to effectively implement and support the use of technology in the criminal process. The Congresswoman recently announced her co-sponsorship of HR 1602, the “Grants for DNA Backlogs Prosecution” bill. This bipartisan bill will provide funding for the prosecution of cases which have already been solved using DNA technology.
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