A recent federal audit of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s state forensic and Combined DNA Index System labs found zero issues.
While the Wednesday announcement is not uncommon, the fact that all five of CBI’s labs resulted in no findings of issues, makes the recent audit unique, said CBI Director Ron Sloan in a news release.
“The accomplishment of completing the FBI QAS Audit with no findings is nothing short of incredible,” Sloan said. “It is a tribute to the staff and their supervisors that the CBI’s DNA and database operations are meeting and surpassing the rigorous standards that are placed upon the most scrutinized and visible forensic discipline.”
The review of the agency’s labs in Denver, Pueblo and Grand Junction over the week of Aug. 26 was done to ensure standards were being met, said Susan Medina, CBI spokeswoman.
CBI’s newest DNA laboratory in Boulder was included in the inspection, she said.
The examination is conducted every two years by nearly a dozen assessors from across the country as part of the FBI’s Quality Assurance Standards Audit and focuses on DNA practices, according to Medina.
“To have the CBI’s five-lab-system audit result in zero findings is a remarkable achievement,” said Jan Girten, CBI’s Forensic Services Director in a news release. “What this means for our customers and stakeholders is that they are ensured of the highest quality of analysis by our staff.”
Ryan Parker: 303-954-2409, rparker@denverpost.com or
This story has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, CBI Director Ron Sloan’s name was spelled incorrectly.
