Julie French CODIS State Administrator frenchj@michigan (517) 322-6269

1. Combined DNA Index System Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division Julie French CODIS State Administrator frenchj@michigan.gov (517) 322-6269

2. Topics to Discuss • What is CODIS? • What forensic casework samples are eligible for entry into CODIS? • How do convicted offender and arrestee samples get processed? • How does the database get searched? • How are matches reported?

3. What is CODIS? • COmbined DNA Index System • National program that supports a database containing DNA profiles that can be searched against each other • CODIS is also the name of the database software • Authorization to establish under DNA Identification Act of 1994 • Categories of DNA profiles include: • Forensic STR and Forensic Mixture STR • Convicted Offender • Missing Persons • Arrestee (July 2009)

4. Missing Persons Convicted Offender Forensic CODIS Database Indexes “Convicted Offender” “Missing Persons” “Forensic” Unidentified Human Remains Missing Person Relatives of Missing Person Convicted Offenders Arrestee/Indicted Persons Legal (NGRI, Juveniles) Crime Scenes (Casework)

5. CODIS Hierarchy • CODIS exists at 3 levels: • Local (LDIS): profiles entered by MSP Grand Rapids, MSP Northville, MSP Lansing • forensic casework • State (SDIS): profiles entered by MSP Lansing Laboratory CODIS Unit • convicted offender and arrestee • National (NDIS): managed by the FBI as the nation’s DNA database containing all DNA profiles uploaded by participating states

6. NDIS Architecture NDIS SDIS SDIS SDIS Lansing, MI LDIS Grand Rapids, MI LDIS Northville, MI LDIS Lansing, MI 195 Total Sites

7. Basic CODIS Facts • DNA profiles are uploaded to the level above on a weekly basis. • Database is searched weekly at all three levels (LDIS, SDIS, and NDIS). • Matching profiles are identified and returned to the labs involved in the match for evaluation. GOAL: Link unsolved cases together AND Link unsolved cases to offenders

8. NDIS Statistics As of June 2010

9. Eligibility Two criteria categories: • Case Facts • Data Acceptance Standards (Data Quality) The scientists uses a combination of information from the two categories to decide if a profile is eligible for entry into CODIS.

10. Eligibility • General Case Fact Questions • Is there documentation to indicate a crime was committed? • Was the profile developed from biological material from crime scene evidence? • Is the profile attributable to a putative perpetrator? • Was the item seized by law enforcement from the suspect’s person, or was the item in the possession of the suspect when collected by law enforcement?

11. Eligibility • Data Acceptance Standards (set by the FBI) • DNA profiles shall be interpretable • A laboratory shall only offer those alleles attributed to the putative perpetrator (no victim, husband, boyfriend) • DNA results from any locus in which an ambiguity exists in the assignment of one or more alleles to the putative perpetrator are allowed • Forensic mixture DNA profiles submitted to NDIS shall have no more than 4 alleles at a maximum of 4 loci • DNA profile developed by an accredited laboratory

12. CSC-Consensual Partners • Common Scenario: • Female CSC victim, had previous consensual sex and a known from the consensual partner has not been submitted for analysis. A male profile is developed from the vaginal swab. • Can the profile go into CODIS? • It Depends….

13. CSC-Consensual Partners • Issues for the scientist to consider: • Number of hours since consensual sex • Condom use during consensual sex • Condom use during rape • Reported details of rape (ejaculation claimed, vaginal penetration, etc.) • Sperm count • Ability to obtain consensual partner known • Attempts made to obtain known • Documentation present in the case file • The rationale behind the decision must be documented!

14. Break and Enter Crimes Issues for the scientist to consider: • Where is specimen in relation to the Point of Entry (POE)? • Do you have a home owner elimination? • What condition is the house/business in? • Especially for cigarette butts—does the victim smoke? • What was the flight path? • What did witnesses say? Surveillance Video? • Is it reasonable to conclude the biological specimen belongs to the perpetrator? • The rationale behind the decision must be documented!

15. What is the CODIS Unit? • Forensic Unit at the MSP Lansing Laboratory Three main duties: • Develop DNA profiles for all convicted offender/arrestee samples collected in the state • Enter DNA profiles into CODIS • Report out resulting matches

16. Database Samples Collected • Prior to January 2002 • Offender samples from CSC and/or homicide convictions only • Received less than 3,000 offender samples per year • January 2002 to June 2009 • Offender samples from ALL felony convictions • Received 50,000 offender samples each year in 2002 and 2003 • July 1, 2009 to current • Added Violent Felony Arrestees

17. State Legislation • DNA Identification Profiling System Act (Act 250 of 1990) • Primary statute covering DNA collection and databasing • References made in other areas • Corrections Code • Youth Rehabilitations Act • Penal Code (750.520m)—arrestees provision

18. DNA Database Specimen Collection Kit DNA Database Collection Card Self-Addressed Return Envelope Ink Strip for Thumbprint collection Two Sterile Foam Applicators

19. The CODIS Unit receives approximately 2,200 offender/ arrestee samples per month

20. CODIS Unit Daily Operations • Receive approximately 100 specimens by mail each day • Each collection card is checked for completeness at reception • The information collected from the card is entered into STaCS and then compared against LEIN • Each specimen is packaged and then sent for laboratory processing • The DNA profiles of the specimens are reviewed by two analysts and then imported into CODIS on Friday • Specimens are searched in CODIS on Monday

21. All convicted offender and arrestee samples are tested, reviewed, and automatically uploaded into the CODIS database.

22. CODIS Searches • Forensic samples are entered at each LDIS location • Convicted Offender and Arrestee samples are entered at SDIS by the CODIS Unit • Eligible samples automatically uploaded to National database (NDIS) • Database searched weekly, matches automatically generated

23. CODIS Matches • Offender Matches: matches between convicted offender or arrestee profiles and forensic evidence profiles • Forensic Matches: matches between 2 forensic evidence profiles • Also called case-to-case hit

24. What happens when there is an Offender match? 1. Casework lab evaluates candidate match. If match is going to be confirmed, scientist calls submitting law enforcement agency to determine status of case. 2. Convicted Offender sample is re-tested by a CODIS Unit scientist. 3. Latent print on offender information card is verified.

25. What happens when there is an Offender match? 4. Criminal History is run to ensure offender was arrested/convicted of a qualifying offense. • The CODIS unit issues a report to the casework analyst who entered the evidence profile into CODIS. 6. The casework analyst writes a report to the submitting law enforcement agency to notify them of the association and the offender’s identification.

26. What happens when there is an Offender match? 7. The submitting law enforcement agency submits a new known sample from the suspect. 8. The casework analyst re-works the new known sample submitted to the lab. 9. A report is written associating the suspect with the case (statistics are provided). 10. The casework analyst testifies in court.

27. CODIS Match Report- Offender Match

28. CODIS Match Report- Offender Match (cont)

29. Casework Match Report

30. Casework Match Report (cont)

31. Why does Hit Confirmation take 30 days? • CODIS Unit is waiting for case status information from the LDIS lab (~1 week) • Confirmation of thumbprint (~1 week) • Possible problems with qualifying offense (1 day to ?) • May be waiting on Judgment of Sentence/Order for DNA • Sample processing and report writing/review (~1 week)

32. Conclusions • CODIS is a National program established by the FBI as a result of the DNA Identification Act of 1994. • Eligible profiles are entered into LDIS or SDIS. • Profiles are uploaded to the level(s) above. • Database searches are run weekly. • Matches are reported back to the submitting law enforcement agency.

33. CODIS Unit Contact Information 517-636-0465 MSPCODIS@michigan.gov Julie French frenchj@michigan.gov 517-322-6269