U.S. Senator Katie Britt Secures $750,000 for Rapid DNA Program at Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, secured $750,000 for the Rapid DNA Implementation Program at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

The congressional directed funds would enable the establishment of a Rapid DNA Implementation Program in which the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences would partner with law enforcement agencies around the state to expand the use of DNA technology and more quickly identify violent perpetrators. 

“The Rapid DNA Implementation Program would help put vital information in the hands of our law enforcement community in a timelier manner,” said Senator Britt. “This $750,000 would enable Alabama to begin implementation of its statewide Rapid DNA deployment plan. I was proud to secure these funds to help provide law enforcement with critical information needed to identify and prosecute violent criminals.”

“The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) is grateful to Sen. Britt for her support of our Pilot Project to begin to implement Rapid DNA testing at booking stations to facilitate the immediate identification of violent perpetrators. Senator Britt’s support of this innovative use of Forensic Science technology to connect the Crime Laboratory to the booking station will aid our statewide efforts to continue making Alabama, and this country, a safer place – each and every day,”said Angelo Della Manna, Director of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

The FY25 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Overall, Senator Britt secured $7.16 million in Justice related congressionally directed spending in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025, including:

• $750,000 for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for a Rapid DNA Implementation Program in Alabama
• $300,000 for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for a mobile command center for critical incident and disaster response
• $250,000 for the City of Decatur for general law enforcement and public safety equipment and enhancements
• $400,000 for the City of Fairhope for general upgraded law enforcement and public safety equipment and technology
• $200,000 for the City of Jacksonville Police Department for a multipurpose rescue and response vehicle
• $350,000 for the City of Phenix City for public safety emergency communications equipment, including radios and upgrades to critical infrastructure
• $100,000 for the City of Roanoke for public safety emergency communications infrastructure
• $250,000 for the DeKalb County Commission for new communications equipment to modernize law enforcement vehicles
• $350,000 for the Hoover Police Department for law enforcement public safety equipment upgrades, including body-worn cameras
• $400,000 for the Pell City Police Department for equipment and technology to enhance community public safety and support law enforcement criminal investigations
• $20,000 for the Slocomb Police Department for law enforcement and public safety equipment
• $250,000 for the St. Clair County Commissions for a crisis intervention and negotiations response vehicle
• $200,000 for Alabama A&M University to improve public safety on campus, including security upgrades to residence halls
• $396,000 for the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office for a patrol and rescue boat, and other water and public safety equipment
• $50,000 for the Bullock County Sheriff’s Department for new law enforcement vehicles
• $1.257 million for the City of Dothan for public safety and law enforcement technology, including the installation of the ShotSpotter Gunfire Location, Alert and Analysis Service to assist law enforcement in rapidly responding to violent crime in the city
• $200,000 for the City of Luverne Police Department for law enforcement public safety equipment, including all-terrain vehicles with needed communications equipment
• $55,000 for the City of Montevallo for a new law enforcement patrol vehicle
• $300,000 for the Etowah County Commission for law enforcement public safety equipment, including a patrol/dive vessel for the Marine / Dive unit to patrol the 437 miles of shoreline throughout the county
• $435,000 for Cleburne County’s Sheriff’s Office for modern patrol vehicles
• $650,000 for Lawrence County Commission for public safety emergency communications equipment, including new radios

BACKGROUND: 

Senator Britt is an advocate for ensuring the unique needs of Alabama’s communities—rural and urban—are met. This includes supporting our tremendous law enforcement officers.

Senator Britt is a staunch champion of Alabama’s law enforcement community. She is a cosponsor of the Back the Blue Act, which would strengthen existing laws that protect police officers, increase the criminal penalties for individuals who target law enforcement, and expand the tools that police can use to protect themselves. Senator Britt is also a cosponsor of the Thin Blue Line Act, which would expand the list of statutory aggravating factors in capital punishment determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.

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