Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EST                    BJS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2000                      202/307-0784 
                
SIXTY-NINE PERCENT OF PUBLIC FORENSIC LABORATORIES
HAD DNA TEST BACKLOGS IN 1997
     
     WASHINGTON, D.C. The first federal survey of publicly
operated forensic crime labs throughout the country has
revealed as of December 31, 1997, the labs had at least
6,800 unprocessed DNA cases and an additional 287,000
unprocessed convicted offender DNA samples...