Brown Announces More than $1.7 Million in New Federal Funds to Provide Justice for Victims Across Ohio

Department of Justice Funds will Help Victims of Crime by Expediting DNA Testing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 7 – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program has awarded six grants totaling $1,767,957 to cities and counties across Ohio to assist local crime laboratories test their backlogs of DNA kits. These funds are crucial to ensure crime victims receive justice in a timely fashion.

“Our ability to deliver justice to crime victims depends on our ability to process evidence in a timely fashion,” Brown said. “These funds are essential to reduce the DNA testing backlog in forensic labs, a key impediment in delivering justice for crime victims across our state.”

DOJ Funding includes:

  • $275,682 to Hamilton County for Hamilton County Coroner’s Office and Laboratory for the continued processing of DNA evidence.
  • $259,064 to Lake County for the Lake County Crime Laboratory to upgrade and maintain equipment, retention of personnel and enhancing capabilities.
  • $250,000 to the City of Mansfield Police Department for the continued processing of backlogged DNA evidence.
  • $321,946 to Cuyahoga County for the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office for the continued processing of backlogged DNA evidence.
  • $313,826 to Montgomery County for the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory for the continued processing of backlogged DNA evidence.
  • $347,439 to the City of Columbus for the Columbus Police Crime Laboratory for the continued processing of DNA evidence and to reduce the backlog of pending cases.

BJA’s DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program is designed to provide local law enforcement and crime laboratories with the resources they need to test backlogs of DNA evidence in order to prosecute crimes and increase safety for citizens.