UPDATES TO BIOLOGY SERVICES

Over the past few years, there has been a consistent increase in the number of requests for biology services at National Forensic Laboratory Services (NFLS). The current resources and capacity can sustain about 9,500 service requests related to biology per year; however, last fiscal year NFLS received over 10,500. As a result, NFLS will be implementing some changes to help ensure a sustainable service delivery model in Biology Services.

NFLS recently examined submissions associated with non-violent, property crime offences, which constitute about half of all requests within Biology Services. Some of these exhibits do not generally yield a DNA profile that can be uploaded and compared in CODIS. Taking the current resources and capacity at NFLS into consideration, it has been determined that the amount of time invested in processing clothing items and accessories (e.g. balaclava, gloves, ball caps, etc.) for break and enters and other property offenses is disproportionate to their overall potential in yielding a DNA profile.

In view of providing sustainable service delivery, new acceptance criteria for property crime offences will be introduced at NFLS starting January 15, 2020. Moving forward, the objective for non-violent property crimes is to focus on exhibits that yield the best potential in identifying the suspect(s) in the most efficient manner. By implementing these reforms, NFLS will also be better positioned to direct its highly specialized forensic resources to other offences, including violent crimes.

NFLS will continue to monitor demand and may implement additional measures if warranted. Thank you in advance for your understanding and for contributing to a process that supports timely criminal proceedings.

UPDATED Acceptance Criteria for Property Crime Offenses UPDATE Changes (Effective January 15th, 2020)

• All clothing and textiles that are part of a non-violent, property crime offence (e.g.; B&Es) will NOT be accepted for DNA analysis.

Previous Changes (since July 2019) Remain in Effect

• Only one exhibit will be accepted per case/file, unless there is reasonable information that more than one suspect was involved in the offence.

• No additional exhibits will be accepted after one round of analysis has been completed. This means that only one request for service is allowed per case/file regardless of the findings in the forensic report.

• Only handled objects thought to belong to the suspect and left behind at the scene will be accepted for DNA analysis – i.e. NFLS will not accept objects that belong to the complainant and have been handled by the suspect.

• Refer to the posted Non-Violent Property Crimes Acceptance Criteria (link) for further details.

NFLS will continue to monitor demand levels and may implement additional measures if warranted.