The case for “investigate all”: Assessing the cost‐effectiveness of investigating no CODIS hit cases in a sexual assault kit initiative

Lovell, Rachel; Singer, Mendel E.; Flannery, Daniel J.; McGuire, Margaret J.

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.14686

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(56 reference statements)

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“…The tangible and intangible costs reported by Miller et al [28] associated with crime are used as they represent national numbers and address many crime categories. These overall costs compare similarly with other studies [for example, see 27,29]. Miller et al [28] estimate the tangible costs (i.e., medical, mental health, productivity, property loss, public services, adjudication and sanctioning, and perpetrator work loss) related to a rape at $11,923 per incident and intangible (i.e., quality of life) costs at $214,518 per incident.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 67%

“…Perhaps with hit information, investigators have good leads and thus motivation to put more effort into a case. We are not sure if more or less effort is generated with a database hit but agree with Lovell et al [27] that the criminal justice system would absorb the work for the safety and security of society and thus do not factor that cost in this CBA.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Regardless, alternate percent increases can be entertained if desired to determine the CBA. The rest of the CBA focuses on sexual assault cases because there are other CBA data available for comparison and support of our assumptions [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]27]. Other crime categories can be added following similar approaches and applicable assumptions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, such factors can be taken into account if one desires as it could be considered additional costs that must be borne with more database hits. Interestingly, Lovell et al [27] presented that database hits increased the time investigators dedicated to the investigation (~ 40 h/ case) compared with cases that did not yield a hit (~ 20 h/ case). Davis et al [7] estimated the hours/case to be similar at 32.64 and 12.72, respectively.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A prospective cost–benefit analysis for nylon 4N6FLOQSwabs®: example of the process and potential benefits

Budowle

Sajantila

2022

Int J Legal Med

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Laboratories and their criminal justice systems are confronted with challenges for implementing new technologies, practices, and policies even when there appears to be demonstrative benefits to operational performance. Impacting decisions are the often higher costs associated with, for example, new technologies, limited current budgets, and making hard decisions on what to sacrifice to take on the seemingly better approach. A prospective cost–benefit analysis (CBA) could help an agency better formulate its strategies and plans and more importantly delineate how a relatively small increase to take on, for example, a new technology can have large impact on the system (e.g., the agency, other agencies, victims and families, and taxpayers). To demonstrate the process and potential value a CBA was performed on the use of an alternate and more expensive swab with reported better DNA yield and being certified human DNA free (i.e., nylon 4N6FLOQSwabs®), versus the traditional less costly swab (i.e., cotton swab). Assumptions are described, potential underestimates and overestimates noted, different values applied (for low and modest to high), and potential benefits (monetary and qualitative) presented. The overall outcome is that the cost of using the more expensive technology pales compared with the potential tangible and intangible benefits. This approach could be a guide for laboratories (and associated criminal justice systems) worldwide to support increased funding, although the costs and benefits may vary locally and for different technologies, practices, and policies. With well-developed CBAs, goals of providing the best services to support the criminal justice system and society can be attained.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A prospective cost–benefit analysis for nylon 4N6FLOQSwabs®: example of the process and potential benefits

Budowle

Sajantila

2022

Int J Legal Med

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“…1 The use of traditional DNA analysis by forensic laboratories has grown over the past few decades in support of court cases. [2][3][4] That growth in demand for DNA analysis has not been matched by a concurrent growth in resources to forensic laboratories. 5,6 As DNA evidence provides greater support in the prosecution of crime, there has been an expansion in the categories of crimes for which police and prosecutors request DNA analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Return on Investment from Rapid DNA Testing of Sexual Assault Kits

Speaker

Wells

2021

MRAJ

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The growing queue for DNA analysis in crime laboratories has prevented the analysis from providing investigative leads as turnaround time has grown, limiting the analytical results to a confirmatory role in the courtroom. Rapid DNA technology offers an opportunity to employ an automated system for the development of a DNA profile. The Rapid DNA technology permits a police booking station to take a buccal swab obtained from an arrestee, acquire a DNA profile, and test that profile against a DNA database, all while the arrestee remains in police custody during the booking process. Rapid DNA technologies are a capital-intensive system enabling sophisticated equipment designed for operation by individuals with limited technical training to provide investigative leads with immediate support. We present the testing of rapid DNA technology in a trial program conducted by the Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratory. The Kentucky test confirms the efficacy of the rapid DNA testing as consistent with the findings from traditional laboratory testing. The economic analysis related to testing indicates that the time saving from the rapid DNA analysis yields benefits that far outweigh the costs from the change in technology.

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A cost–benefit analysis for use of large SNP panels and high throughput typing for forensic investigative genetic genealogy

2023

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Next-generation sequencing (NGS), also known as massively sequencing, enables large dense SNP panel analyses which generate the genetic component of forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG). While the costs of implementing large SNP panel analyses into the laboratory system may seem high and daunting, the benefits of the technology may more than justify the investment. To determine if an infrastructural investment in public laboratories and using large SNP panel analyses would reap substantial benefits to society, a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) was performed. This CBA applied the logic that an increase of DNA profile uploads to a DNA database due to a sheer increase in number of markers and a greater sensitivity of detection afforded with NGS and a higher hit/association rate due to large SNP/kinship resolution and genealogy will increase investigative leads, will be more effective for identifying recidivists which in turn reduces future victims of crime, and will bring greater safety and security to communities. Analyses were performed for worst case/best case scenarios as well as by simulation sampling the range spaces with multiple input values simultaneously to generate best estimate summary statistics. This study shows that the benefits, both tangible and intangible, over the lifetime of an advanced database system would be huge and can be projected to be for less than $1 billion per year (over a 10-year period) investment can reap on average > $4.8 billion in tangible and intangible cost-benefits per year. More importantly, on average > 50,000 individuals need not become victims if FIGG were employed, assuming investigative associations generated were acted upon. The benefit to society is immense making the laboratory investment a nominal cost. The benefits likely are underestimated herein. There is latitude in the estimated costs, and even if they were doubled or tripled, there would still be substantial benefits gained with a FIGG-based approach. While the data used in this CBA are US centric (primarily because data were readily accessible), the model is generalizable and could be used by other jurisdictions to perform relevant and representative CBAs.

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The case for “investigate all”: Assessing the cost‐effectiveness of investigating no CODIS hit cases in a sexual assault kit initiative

Cited by 10 publications

References 25 publications

A prospective cost–benefit analysis for nylon 4N6FLOQSwabs®: example of the process and potential benefits

A prospective cost–benefit analysis for nylon 4N6FLOQSwabs®: example of the process and potential benefits

The Return on Investment from Rapid DNA Testing of Sexual Assault Kits

A cost–benefit analysis for use of large SNP panels and high throughput typing for forensic investigative genetic genealogy

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