NCJ Number
218454
Date Published
June 2005
Length
56 pages
Annotation
The California Bureau of State Audits presents it audit report concerning the U.S. Department of Justice’s Missing Persons DNA Program and whether the program is meeting its statutory provisions and efficiently using its funds.
Abstract
Highlights of the audit revealed: (1) that the Missing Persons DNA Program reached full operation in July 2004, which seems reasonable considering the issues it faced in establishing its operations, including a State hiring freeze and the high level of training its staff require (2) as of February 2005, the program had received 799 requests and completed DNA analysis for 261 of them, but is unlikely to complete testing for all requests before the fee supporting it expires (3) it may be to soon to decide whether the existing fee supporting the program should be made permanent (4) several elements of the program are sound, but its management information and timekeeping databases, which could otherwise serve as valuable management tools, include inaccurate data and (5) the program is receiving the funding to which it is entitled and its costs are appropriate for a laboratory to incur. It is recommended that the Missing Persons DNA Program review its workload estimate periodically to ensure that it is based on the most current data and reflects future program demands. The program should also take the necessary steps to ensure that its management information and timekeeping databases contain accurate and reliable data. In January 2001, the Missing Persons DNA Program was established as a result of legislation. The purpose of the program was to develop DNA profiles from unidentified human remains and to develop DNA profiles of high-risk missing persons with the potential to match one to the other. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee requested the Bureau of State Audits to assess the program, with a focus on determining whether it is meeting its statutory provisions and efficiently using its funds.