As part of the 2016 BJA SAKI solicitation, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office was awarded a grant to identify offenders who should have their DNA in the FBI’s DNA database (the Combined DNA Index System, CODIS) but do not—offenders who lawfully “owe” their DNA. In addition to identifying offenders who “owe” DNA, the Task Force will also collect, submit, and track DNA samples of these offenders.
The Cuyahoga County SAK Research Project team is collaborating with the Task Force in conducting (1) a census of offenders who owe DNA and (2) an assessment of the efficacy of changes to practice. Currently, the team is conducting the census of offenders who owe their DNA.