❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses DNA sample processing times, backlogs, and matches since the introduction of new DNA laws, prompting a detailed response outlining statistics and government efforts to improve efficiency.
AnsweredQoN 1753Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 August 2003
Member
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services; Justice; Community Safety
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the Minister advise how many DNA samples from crime scenes have been submitted by Police Officers for a possible match to an offender that are currently awaiting processing?
(2) What is the longest period of time that any one of these samples has been waiting for processing?
(3) How long will it take to completely clear the current backlog?
(4) What is the average length of time taken for a sample submitted from a crime scene by a Police Officer to be processed?
(5) How many samples from crime scenes in total have been submitted by Police Officers for sampling since the inception of the new DNA laws?
(6) As at 30 June 2003 how many samples in total (whether submitted from a crime scene or as part of the backcapture project) have been matched positively with an offender?
(7) How many of those offenders have not yet been to court to face these charges?
(8) How many have been found guilty?
(9) As at 30 June 2003 how many scene to scene DNA matches have been made?
(2) What is the longest period of time that any one of these samples has been waiting for processing?
(3) How long will it take to completely clear the current backlog?
(4) What is the average length of time taken for a sample submitted from a crime scene by a Police Officer to be processed?
(5) How many samples from crime scenes in total have been submitted by Police Officers for sampling since the inception of the new DNA laws?
(6) As at 30 June 2003 how many samples in total (whether submitted from a crime scene or as part of the backcapture project) have been matched positively with an offender?
(7) How many of those offenders have not yet been to court to face these charges?
(8) How many have been found guilty?
(9) As at 30 June 2003 how many scene to scene DNA matches have been made?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2003
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services; Justice; Community Safety
Response time
98 days
1 – 4. In February 2001 there were numerous crime scene samples dating back to the 1990s and earlier that had been collected by police officers and were awaiting submission to and/or processing by the PathCentre. Between 2001 and July 2002 priority was given to major crime and to clearing the historic backlog. Currently it is estimated there is a backlog of 9000 samples either stored by police or the PathCentre, the oldest of which dates back to 2000. With the enactment of the new DNA laws, priority has been given to processing the samples collected as part of the back capture and samples from major crimes. In the past 12 months, the Government has increased the number of scientists employed by the PathCentre from 13 to 34 and is locating the forensic biology laboratory in new larger premises to reduce the backlog and process the new significantly increased volume of samples as soon as possible. The processing time will vary, dependant upon priorities set by police and the nature and complexities of the exhibits or the case under investigation. The PathCentre can process an urgent case analysis within a week. 5. Since the inception of the new DNA laws on 1 July 2002 police have collected approximately 20,472 samples from crime scenes and submitted approximately 16,864 samples to the PathCentre for analysis. 6. For the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 there have been 488 crime scene matches made to 308 individual offenders. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 184 persons have been positively matched with DNA samples from crime scenes. 7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
With the enactment of the new DNA laws, priority has been given to processing the samples collected as part of the back capture and samples from major crimes. In the past 12 months, the Government has increased the number of scientists employed by the PathCentre from 13 to 34 and is locating the forensic biology laboratory in new larger premises to reduce the backlog and process the new significantly increased volume of samples as soon as possible. The processing time will vary, dependant upon priorities set by police and the nature and complexities of the exhibits or the case under investigation. The PathCentre can process an urgent case analysis within a week. 5. Since the inception of the new DNA laws on 1 July 2002 police have collected approximately 20,472 samples from crime scenes and submitted approximately 16,864 samples to the PathCentre for analysis. 6. For the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 there have been 488 crime scene matches made to 308 individual offenders. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 184 persons have been positively matched with DNA samples from crime scenes. 7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
5. Since the inception of the new DNA laws on 1 July 2002 police have collected approximately 20,472 samples from crime scenes and submitted approximately 16,864 samples to the PathCentre for analysis. 6. For the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 there have been 488 crime scene matches made to 308 individual offenders. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 184 persons have been positively matched with DNA samples from crime scenes. 7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
6. For the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 there have been 488 crime scene matches made to 308 individual offenders. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 184 persons have been positively matched with DNA samples from crime scenes. 7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
With the enactment of the new DNA laws, priority has been given to processing the samples collected as part of the back capture and samples from major crimes. In the past 12 months, the Government has increased the number of scientists employed by the PathCentre from 13 to 34 and is locating the forensic biology laboratory in new larger premises to reduce the backlog and process the new significantly increased volume of samples as soon as possible. The processing time will vary, dependant upon priorities set by police and the nature and complexities of the exhibits or the case under investigation. The PathCentre can process an urgent case analysis within a week. 5. Since the inception of the new DNA laws on 1 July 2002 police have collected approximately 20,472 samples from crime scenes and submitted approximately 16,864 samples to the PathCentre for analysis. 6. For the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 there have been 488 crime scene matches made to 308 individual offenders. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 184 persons have been positively matched with DNA samples from crime scenes. 7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
5. Since the inception of the new DNA laws on 1 July 2002 police have collected approximately 20,472 samples from crime scenes and submitted approximately 16,864 samples to the PathCentre for analysis. 6. For the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 there have been 488 crime scene matches made to 308 individual offenders. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 184 persons have been positively matched with DNA samples from crime scenes. 7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
6. For the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 there have been 488 crime scene matches made to 308 individual offenders. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 184 persons have been positively matched with DNA samples from crime scenes. 7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
7. As at 30 June 2003, 122 persons linked to crime scene samples by the DNA database have not yet appeared in court to face charges. 8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
8. To date 186 persons have been charged with a total of 349 charges as a result of identifications made on the DNA database. Of those 349 charges, 134 persons have been convicted of 195 offences. The remaining 52 offenders have not had their charges finalised by the courts. 9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
9. As at 30 June 2003, 435 DNA scene-to-scene matches had been made. For the period 1 July 2003 to 29 August 2003 a further 88 scene-to-scene matches have also been made.
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