❓ A Western Australian parliamentary question on notice addresses DNA analysis backlogs, turnaround times, and data sharing practices within the state's forensic services, highlighting concerns about delays impacting the justice system. The response provides details on backlog composition, data sharing, and ongoing reviews.
AnsweredQoN 3163Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Given that in December 2005, PathWest had 37,307 requests for DNA analyses of crime exhibits waiting to be processed:
(a) are there any crime scene forensic evidence backlogs still to examine and profile in Western Australia; and
(b) if so how many and what type of crime is involved in each of the backlogs?
(2) Does any of the backlog include DNA analyses of Mr. Mark Dixie, who lived in Australia between 1993 and 1999, recently convicted of the gruesome murder of a teenage model outside her home in South London?
(3) Are all profiles from all crimes in Western Australia supplied, as a matter of course, to all states and territories for comparison against criminals in their states?
(a) if the answer to (3) is yes, how is this supplied; or
(b) if the answer to (3) is no, which crime profiles are supplied?
(4) What is the turnaround time for DNA profiles taken in Perth?
(a) Is it the same turnaround time as in the United Kingdom, which I understand is 14 days?
(5) Has there now been created a single reliable State exhibit register that records exhibit details and tracks movement within and between agencies?
(a) if the answer to (5) is yes, where is it held and who is able to have access to the register?
(6) Has there been an assessment of the capacity of the forensic services to meet future demand?
(a) if the answer to (6) is yes, has that document been tabled; and
(b) if no assessment has been done yet why not?
(7) Given that delays in obtaining forensic evidence are adversely affecting the justice system, one of the most significant issues being a large backlog in DNA analyses, resulting in delayed prosecutions and court adjournments:
(a) how many accused have remained incarcerated as a result of the lateness of DNA analyses and the delay in trials?
(8) Has the judiciary, the State Director of Public Prosecutions or the Department of the Attorney General, as a result of the Auditor General’s report, seen fit to commence monitoring the number of indictment and trials that are delayed?
(a) if yes to (8), where can that information be found?
(a) are there any crime scene forensic evidence backlogs still to examine and profile in Western Australia; and
(b) if so how many and what type of crime is involved in each of the backlogs?
(2) Does any of the backlog include DNA analyses of Mr. Mark Dixie, who lived in Australia between 1993 and 1999, recently convicted of the gruesome murder of a teenage model outside her home in South London?
(3) Are all profiles from all crimes in Western Australia supplied, as a matter of course, to all states and territories for comparison against criminals in their states?
(a) if the answer to (3) is yes, how is this supplied; or
(b) if the answer to (3) is no, which crime profiles are supplied?
(4) What is the turnaround time for DNA profiles taken in Perth?
(a) Is it the same turnaround time as in the United Kingdom, which I understand is 14 days?
(5) Has there now been created a single reliable State exhibit register that records exhibit details and tracks movement within and between agencies?
(a) if the answer to (5) is yes, where is it held and who is able to have access to the register?
(6) Has there been an assessment of the capacity of the forensic services to meet future demand?
(a) if the answer to (6) is yes, has that document been tabled; and
(b) if no assessment has been done yet why not?
(7) Given that delays in obtaining forensic evidence are adversely affecting the justice system, one of the most significant issues being a large backlog in DNA analyses, resulting in delayed prosecutions and court adjournments:
(a) how many accused have remained incarcerated as a result of the lateness of DNA analyses and the delay in trials?
(8) Has the judiciary, the State Director of Public Prosecutions or the Department of the Attorney General, as a result of the Auditor General’s report, seen fit to commence monitoring the number of indictment and trials that are delayed?
(a) if yes to (8), where can that information be found?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2008
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
44 days
(1) The Auditor General reported on the PathWest backlog as being 37,309 items (not cases). This figure not only represents items awaiting examination but also those items that are:
· Items currently undergoing examination.
· Items that have been examined and where DNA had NOT been found and was waiting to be reported.
· Items that have been examined and where DNA was found but was NOT linked to any other profile on the Database and hence remain open
· Items that have been examined and where DNA was found and linked to another crime scene but not linked to a known person.
· Items that have been examined and where DNA was found and linked to a known person and was awaiting an evidentiary sample.
· Items that have been examined and for cases where court reports were being produced but had not as yet gone to trial.
(a) Yes.
(b) The current backlog comprises of 51 major crime and 465 volume crime cases.
(2) No
(3) Yes, all profiles are uploaded to the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database which all interstate jurisdictions participate in.
(a) By regular uploads to the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database by the laboratory.
(b) Not applicable.
(4) In WA the DNA processing stream is divided into major crime (Homicide, serious assaults, sexual offences and significant drug seizures) and volume crime (Burglary, stealing and minor assaults). Within each processing stream, requests for analysis are prioritised as to their urgency.
Analysis of major crime scene samples which are given urgent priority by WA Police are processed within 24 hours. Volume crime analysis and upload to the DNA Database is routinely completed within one month. Reference DNA samples from persons are uploaded to the DNA Database within 10 working days.
(a) There is literature on the Internet regarding turnaround times of DNA profiling, some of which would not support a turnaround time of 14 days in the United Kingdom.
(5) Yes
(a) WA Police own and maintain the Incident Management System which is available and used by all WA police officers. Access to Incident Management System is given to the PathWest laboratory to receive and return exhibits sent for analysis, as well as to update analysis results.
(6) Yes. Superintendent Smalpage conducted a WA Police review of forensic services which is currently undergoing an implementation phase
(a) No
(b) Not applicable
(7) This question should be directed to the Attorney General.
(8) This question should be directed to the Attorney General.
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· Items currently undergoing examination.
· Items that have been examined and where DNA had NOT been found and was waiting to be reported.
· Items that have been examined and where DNA was found but was NOT linked to any other profile on the Database and hence remain open
· Items that have been examined and where DNA was found and linked to another crime scene but not linked to a known person.
· Items that have been examined and where DNA was found and linked to a known person and was awaiting an evidentiary sample.
· Items that have been examined and for cases where court reports were being produced but had not as yet gone to trial.
(a) Yes.
(b) The current backlog comprises of 51 major crime and 465 volume crime cases.
(2) No
(3) Yes, all profiles are uploaded to the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database which all interstate jurisdictions participate in.
(a) By regular uploads to the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database by the laboratory.
(b) Not applicable.
(4) In WA the DNA processing stream is divided into major crime (Homicide, serious assaults, sexual offences and significant drug seizures) and volume crime (Burglary, stealing and minor assaults). Within each processing stream, requests for analysis are prioritised as to their urgency.
Analysis of major crime scene samples which are given urgent priority by WA Police are processed within 24 hours. Volume crime analysis and upload to the DNA Database is routinely completed within one month. Reference DNA samples from persons are uploaded to the DNA Database within 10 working days.
(a) There is literature on the Internet regarding turnaround times of DNA profiling, some of which would not support a turnaround time of 14 days in the United Kingdom.
(5) Yes
(a) WA Police own and maintain the Incident Management System which is available and used by all WA police officers. Access to Incident Management System is given to the PathWest laboratory to receive and return exhibits sent for analysis, as well as to update analysis results.
(6) Yes. Superintendent Smalpage conducted a WA Police review of forensic services which is currently undergoing an implementation phase
(a) No
(b) Not applicable
(7) This question should be directed to the Attorney General.
(8) This question should be directed to the Attorney General.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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