The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance has granted $1.5 million to the Louisiana State Police as part of the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). The funding aims to facilitate the research, review, and collection of lawfully-owed DNA from arrestees and convicted offenders for inclusion in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). This initiative seeks to generate new investigative leads in unsolved cases.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. confirmed the award, highlighting its significance in advancing forensic investigations. The Louisiana State Police Crime Lab (LSPCL) in Baton Rouge will manage the process of receiving, verifying, and analyzing DNA collections from eligible individuals. These profiles will be developed and uploaded into CODIS while retaining samples for match verification and quality assurance.
Since 2002, Louisiana has been collecting DNA samples from convicted offenders for CODIS enrollment. In 2003, it became the first state to collect and enroll arrestee samples into CODIS. Recently, in 2022, it incorporated Rapid DNA technology into its booking process to analyze these samples efficiently.
For further details about these awards, inquiries can be directed to the OJP Office of Communications at 202-307-0703 or via email at OJP.OCOM@ojp.usdoj.gov.
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