Citing backlog of 3,800 DNA cases, law enforcement officials push for legislative support

Mar 01, 20230

Kyeland Jackson, Star Tribune count

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi, joined by other law enforcement leaders Tuesday, pushed legislators to support funding for more forensic scientists and equipment that could decrease a massive backlog of cases involving DNA evidence across Minnesota.

Law enforcement officials from across Minnesota met in St. Paul on Tuesday to ask for legislative help in clearing a massive backlog of DNA cases awaiting testing amid increasing violent crime.

At a news conference Tuesday, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said that the backlog has become "a real issue" in how long it takes to get justice in the criminal justice system. Evidence should be processed within a month. However a backlog of around 3,800 cases has clogged the system and pushed the average time to process evidence to 142 days. Some evidence isn't processed for as long as a year.

Without support, officials say that the average time to clear evidence could balloon to 240 days by 2025.

https://www.startribune.com/citing-backlog-of-3800-dna-cases-law-enforcement-officials-push-for-legislative-support/600255138/