The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has decided to shift its DNA testing operations away from the state lab due to ongoing challenges faced by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in processing sexual assault forensic exams.
Sheriff Curtis Johnson communicated this change in a letter to CBI director Chris Shaefer, stating that genetic material and other evidence will now be sent to the Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory.
While expressing a desire to maintain a strong working relationship with CBI, Johnson highlighted the importance of timely DNA analysis and sexual assault kit processing.
The backlog at CBI has resulted in sexual assault forensic exams taking over 500 days on average to process. The bureau aims to reduce this turnaround time by half within the next year, ultimately striving for a 90-day wait with additional funding from Colorado lawmakers.
The backlog has been linked to the reexamination of DNA testing conducted by former lab analyst Yvonne “Missy” Woods, who faced multiple felony charges for mishandling DNA testing in various criminal cases.
Despite the shift in DNA testing, the sheriff’s office will continue to rely on CBI for certain specialized services such as toxicology and various forensic testing.
CBI emphasizes its commitment to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of its testing services, reassuring the public of their dedication to quality assurance.
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