Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is now in a better position to obtain quicker results from DNA tests on individuals arrested for serious crimes such as felonies. This improvement is due to the implementation of Rapid DNA Pilot Program Grant, which allowed them to use a machine that provides results in as little as 90 minutes.
Once an individual is brought to the facility, they start the fingerprints and if they have a felony charge that requires DNA, they can use the simplex with DNA process to collect a mouth swab. The collected sample would then be inputted into a machine that searches a database. If a match is found connecting the DNA to a relevant case, the investigating agency is notified.
Sheriff Rick Staly emphasized that this new technology is crucial in reducing backlogs at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and can prevent inmates from being released before facing potential charges in other jurisdictions. Law enforcement officials see this rapid DNA processing as a gamechanger in solving crimes, especially cold cases that may have been unsolved for decades.
Clay County is another recipient of the grant and has already implemented the technology earlier this month. This advancement in DNA testing is expected to have a significant impact on criminal investigations moving forward. Sara Radford, a detention deputy at Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, explained that once an individual is brought to the facility, they start the fingerprints and if they have a felony charge that requires DNA, they can use the simplex with DNA process to collect a mouth swab.
