U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Why Is There an Evidence Backlog?
NCJ Number
              251312

Date Published

November 2017
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              This 2-minute animated video explains how and why an evidence backlog occurs and persists.
Abstract
              The central figure portrayed in the video is Sarah, a lab scientist whose job is to analyze all evidence brought into the lab from a crime scene. She has just completed evidence analysis for a case, and she faces analyses of more evidence brought in from other investigations. Confronted with a growing backlog of evidence requiring analysis, she remembers a Solicitation she received from the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) that would provide additional funding for lab staff and resources. She applies for and receives NIJ funding for increasing lab capacity. The additional resources of personnel and equipment enabled by the new funding are used to reduce the evidence backlog. Evidence analysis is done faster, allowing the police to clear cases faster. The evidence backlog begins to decrease; however, as it becomes known that the lab has increased its capacity to analyze more evidence than in the past, more evidence begins to be submitted for analysis, and lab productivity is once again insufficient to prevent a growing evidence backlog. It becomes clear that if lab resources and productivity do not continue to expand as evidence productivity increases, then an evidence backlog will persist.
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Training (Aid/Material)
                                Technical Assistance
                                Issue Overview
                                Instructional Material (Programmed)
    
  
  
Date Published: November 1, 2017
    
          Downloads
        
                      Transcript (HTML)
                  2:13 (Video)

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Crime laboratory equipment
        Crime laboratory management
        Evidence
        Evidence Identification
        Forensic laboratories



  
Similar Publications
        
                      The History of a Monumental Forensic Tool and the Ethical Debate Sparked by Wrongful Convictions Based on Trace DNA Evidence
                  What FSSP Leaders Should Know About Artificial Intelligence And Its Application To Forensic Science In-Brief
                  Success Story: NIJ And The New York City OCME Validating Confirmatory Body Fluid Identification Assays For Real-World Impact
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov