The Boulder County Sheriff’s Workplace will now not depend on a state lab for DNA testing, because the Colorado Bureau of Investigation continues to grapple with a backlog of sexual assault forensic exams.
Sheriff Curtis Johnson wrote in a Feb. 10 letter to CBI director Chris Shaefer that the company will as an alternative ship genetic materials and different proof to the Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory.
“Under no circumstances do I wish to (sever) the robust working relationship between the Boulder County Sheriff’s Workplace and CBI,” Johnson wrote within the letter shared by CBI spokesperson Rob Low. “I’m hopeful CBI will be capable to overcome the latest challenges with DNA evaluation and sexual assault package processing occasions.”
Incoming sexual assault forensic exams, generally referred to as rape kits, are taking the bureau greater than 500 days on common to course of. The bureau mentioned in a press release that it hopes to halve turnaround occasions within the subsequent yr and finally cut back the look ahead to assessments to 90 days with the assistance of funds earmarked by Colorado lawmakers.
CBI has attributed the backlog to the resource-intensive reexamination of DNA testing accomplished by disgraced former lab analyst Yvonne “Missy” Woods, who was charged with 102 felonies in January for mishandling DNA testing in a whole bunch of prison instances throughout her decades-long profession with the bureau.
Johnson wrote that the sheriff’s workplace will proceed to depend on CBI for companies not offered by the Jefferson County lab, together with toxicology and fireplace particles, explosive, gunshot residue and hint testing.
“We will’t converse to the operational selections of different businesses; nonetheless, we wish to emphasize that the CBI is dedicated to the integrity and accuracy of its testing,” the bureau mentioned in a press release.
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