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About Us
 
STACS DNA delivers the only sample management software designed specifically for forensic DNA labs. Since 2000, we've helped DNA database and casework labs increase capacity, prevent errors, cut costs, improve data quality and meet accreditation standards, without hiring additional staff.
 
Why are we called STACS DNA? "Sample Tracking and Control Systems" for DNA - What we do is in our name!

March 2015

Apply for DNA Lab Funding

The NIJ is seeking funding applications from DNA labs for four programs:

STACS DNA can help you meet the deadlines! Contact us here. 
  

Did You Know?

You don't need to waste precious time tracking grants!

Does your grant manager spend hours preparing NIJ grant reports? Do lab staff still use a spreadsheet to track activities for grant reporting?  Does it take hours or even days away from processing cases to fix occasional errors?  Would it save you and your team time and exasperation if all of that was completely automated?

 

STACS-CW Enterprise completely automates grant tracking as part of its regular, extensive audit trail.

Learn more

Download the info sheet

Read the news release

  

What's New?

Did you get your Lab Budget Impact Analysis yet? What are you waiting for? Based on your lab's own data, this online tool gives you a customized report after calculating the most budget-friendly way to grow your lab's capacity and improve turnaround time. 

 

Click here to begin. 

  

Events

Plan to visit us at:


Mid-America Forensic DNA Conference

April 8-9, 2015

Columbia, MO

 

Come and see Tim Stacy present "Customer Case Studies: How DNA Labs Use Technology to Increase Productivity" at Mid-America.

 

Tim will share how two casework DNA labs increased their sample throughput by 146% and 250% respectfully without hiring a single additional analyst, saving salaries and benefits. In fact, the labs would have each needed to hire and train 32% and 60% more analysts in order to achieve equivalent capacity gains if they had not automated. Tim will also present the labs' additional benefits, including quality improvement and risk reduction.

 

Can't make the presentation? Read the case studies

 

The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) 2015

April 26-30, 2015

Washington, DC

 

California Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (CACLD) Spring 2015 Seminar

May 4-5, 2015

Ventura Beach, CA

 

California Association of Criminalists (CAC) Spring 2015 Seminar

May 4-8, 2015

Ventura Beach, CA
 

Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists (MAAFS)

May 18-22, 2015

Cambridge, MD

 

In the News: North America 

Joe Biden backs $41 million fund to reduce rape kit testing backlog

Vice President Joe Biden threw his support behind a $41 million budget proposal that continues a sexual assault initiative aimed at reducing rape kit testing backlogs.

 

Victims' mothers support DNA swabs for felony suspects in Minnesota

Two mothers who lost their daughters to murder spent a week lobbying Minnesota lawmakers about requiring law enforcement officers to take DNA swabs from serious felony suspects.

 

Amendment slows down Nebraska DNA testing bill

The bill is to clarify a person's right to present new DNA evidence after being convicted of a crime, but proposed new rules will slow the process down.

 

Search warrant not necessary to DNA test in Massachusetts

The state's highest court ruled that investigators do not need a search warrant to conduct DNA testing on a lawfully-seized unknown sample.

 

Illinois Innocence Project wants evidence better preserved

The law requires keeping physical evidence until after a convicted person's sentence has been served, but it says nothing about how the evidence should be maintained.

 

Bill introduced to overhaul Oregon's post-conviction DNA testing law

Defense attorneys say the state's DNA law is confusing and almost impossible for inmates to use.

 

29 suspects charged after Houston enters evidence into national DNA database

The city of Houston eliminated its backlog of more than 6,000 untested rape kits.

 

Understanding Texas Senate Bill 487 and its effect on DNA testing

Senate Bill 487 is posed to aid in cases of wrongful incarceration, as well as the prevention of future occurrences.

 

Washington lawmaker tries to tackle major rape kit backlog

DNA collected in thousands of sexual assault cases has never been tested, but a bill in the Legislature could start to change that.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, toured the D.C. Consolidated Forensic Laboratory (CFL) last week.
 

In the News: International

FBI to transfer DNA testing software to Vietnam police

Both sides agree to enhance collaboration and establish a legal framework on crime prevention.

 

Qatar moves to allow DNA evidence in court

DNA evidence could be admissible in Qatari courts, after the government approved a draft law that specifies ways in which samples can be used.

 

Dutch DNA database makes 25,000th criminal hit

The Netherlands' DNA database recently made its 25,000th match. It involved a match between evidence found in the Netherlands and a person whose DNA profile is in the Austrian DNA database.

 

Forensic testing method 'not fit for purpose' - New Zealand murder trial hears

A defense witness claims a forensic testing method was "not fit for purpose" when used on a polo shirt owned by murder suspect.

 

Articles of Interest

U.S. rape test backlog down to mindset, not just money

Simply spending more money on testing won't prevent history repeating itself. Poor training and attitudes on the part of investigators will also need tackling.

 

Can DNA evidence be faked? - via Forensic Magazine

Is it possible to engineer a crime scene?

 

Why rape kits go untested

Many sexual assault cases don't make it to court, accounting for some of the 9,062 backlogged kits in Tennessee.

 

Your DNA can now be used against you in court without your consent

A recent refusal by the Supreme Court means that involuntary DNA collection isn't unconstitutional.

 

How to write a Standard Operating Procedure

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a document consisting of step-by-step information on how to execute a task. Here is the very, very, very thorough checklist.

 

Seven tips for getting back into the lab after a job change

Here's advice on how to make the leap back in.