AUSTIN, TEXAS – Sept. 1, 2020 – Signature Science, LLC has received a contract from the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) to perform DNA forensic casework analysis services through December 2021. Under the contract, Signature Science will perform forensic serology, screening, and DNA analysis of biological evidence associated with sexual assault kits (SAKs).
The contract was made possible by a grant awarded under the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program. The goal of the program is to provide funding to increase the capacity of publicly funded forensic DNA and DNA database laboratories to process more DNA samples. This increased capacity will help reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis and prevent a backlog of forensic and database DNA samples. The contract underscores HFSC’s and Signature Science’s commitment to ensuring timely SAK testing and avoiding a future backlog. Signature Science will support HFSC through December 2021.
“Signature Science is proud to support outstanding institutions like HFSC in their effort to process more SAKs and ensure timely generation of results for survivors,” said Leslie Parke, Signature Science’s DNA Forensics Laboratory Director. “In Texas and across the United States, we are committed to increasing our capacity to support public crime laboratory backlog reduction and make positive contributions to the criminal justice system.”
Work under the contract will be performed at Signature Science’s ANAB-accredited DNA forensics laboratory in Austin, TX.
About Signature Science, LLC: A subsidiary of the Southwest Research Institute, Signature Science, LLC is a scientific and technical consulting firm providing multi-disciplinary applied research, technology design and development, and scientific, technical and operational services to government and industry.