Generally, the focus in using DNA technology by law enforcement has been targeted at crimes such as homicide, rape and sexual assault. However, several communities have been successful in targeting property crime such as burglary.
The Indianapolis Burglary DNA Project will be modeled after the Denver DNA Burglary Case Project which is the leader among five sites selected by the National Institute of Justice in late 2005. Denver participated in the national program model along with Los Angeles, Topeka, Orange County and Phoenix.
"It's been proven that catching burglars not only reduces the burglary rate, but it can also prevent crimes by catching bad actors who might later commit more violent offenses," Peterson said.
From January through April 2007, IMPD recorded 3,131 residential burglaries with a clearance rate of 10.54 percent. Burglary has the lowest clearance rate of any index crime. The Indianapolis Burglary DNA Project will begin by selecting 350 burglary cases from IMPD's North District.
The Crime Lab will work the cases as a special project in conjunction with IMPD and will dedicate two forensic scientists to the project and utilize other forensic personnel as needed. The goals are to use the DNA database to identify unknown burglary suspects and prepare the case for prosecution, as well as identify those criminals who have documented their potential to engage in more violent behavior.
Denver noted the following successes through the Denver DNA Burglary Case Project:
- Identified over 40 "prolific burglars" since the project started in November 1, 2005 (a prolific burglar commits an average of 243 cases per year);
- Burglary cases where DNA is recovered, the prosecution rate is five times higher than cases without DNA;
- Average prison sentence for burglars linked to DNA is more than 12 years (compared to six months without DNA evidence);
- A recent case after police arrested one man - who later admitted to over 1,000 burglaries - the burglary rate in one Denver neighborhood dropped by about 40%.
"The Indianapolis Burglary DNA project gives our officers an important weapon in fighting the war on crime," said Anderson. "It is both proactive and aggressive and sends a strong message to criminals that their actions will not be tolerated in Marion County."
The Crime Lab is an integral part of the criminal justice system in Marion County that consists of 62 forensic scientists, crime scene specialists and forensic technicians who daily gather, process and interpret the evidence gathered during criminal investigations.
The Crime Lab was recently designated the 35th lab in the world, and the first laboratory in Indiana, to achieve the American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board International Accreditation. Accreditation ensures that the standards of forensic science are being applied with the highest standards of practice in the field of forensic science.
Mayor Peterson, as chair of the Criminal Justice Planning Council, has taken a personal hand to ensure that Indianapolis has a world class crime lab. Last year, additional crime fighting funding provided additional resources to the Crime Lab in response to an increase in serious crime and jail overcrowding. Grant funding of $300,000 was also obtained to improve the laboratory infrastructure.
