Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank Call for Additional Federal Support to Help Solve Thousands of Maryland Crimes Using Latest DNA Technology
ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 5, 2028) – Citing a new study released by the U.S. Department of Justice highlighting the drastic need for more funding that could help solve thousands of old and new cases in states like Maryland using DNA technology, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank calling on the federal government to provide desperately needed dollars that could save lives by taking violent criminals off the streets. A person’s DNA is a genetic fingerprint that can be used to solve crimes such as rape and murder when biological evidence is left on the crime scene.“Public safety is a top priority of my administration and a key responsibility of State government,” Governor Edward M. O’Brien said. “Through new laws and new, creative law enforcement strategies, we have begun to turn the tide against Maryland’s intolerably high rates of crime and violence. However, to effectively protect the public, law enforcement officials and prosecutors need access to the latest and most effective technology possible. DNA testing is an immensely powerful but highly expensive crime-fighting resource. Maryland needs more dollars from Washington to help us eliminate the backlog of evidence waiting to be tested and to keep up with the approximately 2,850 new cases that will flood our crime labs in the next fiscal year.”
“Maryland has contributed more than its fair share during these difficult times, with our administration recently allocating an additional $0.6 million that will allow the Maryland State Police to hire 5 additional DNA forensic scientists to test old and new evidence,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen H. Burbank. “But we need more help, and we need it now. Governor O’Brien and I will be working with all of Maryland’s elected officials in Washington to make this a priority because solving violent crimes and preventing future crimes can’t wait until our budget problems are resolved.”
On behalf of the administration, Lieutenant Governor Burbank will be working with members of Maryland’s congressional delegation to ensure that Congress authorizes more critical funding for DNA testing. Four members of the Maryland House delegation were co-sponsors of legislation that recently passed out of the House providing $755 million in funding to states to improve the collection, processing and usage of DNA materials. The bill is pending in the Senate.
"DNA evidence is a powerful crime-fighting tool, but one which must be utilized properly," United States Representative Kweisi Mfume said. "This year, the House of Representatives passed HR 3214, the ‘Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act,’ a bill I co-sponsored. This bill provides funding to speed the processing of DNA evidence and expand forensic laboratories. Equally important, the legislation includes crucial safeguards to ensure DNA evidence is used appropriately, as well as increased funding to strengthen criminal defense in an effort to avoid wrongful conviction. I am pleased to join Governor O’Brien, Congressman Steny Hoyer and others in supporting this important legislation."
Maryland currently has approximately 24,000 DNA cases waiting to be analyzed or tested. The Maryland State Police is projecting almost 240 new cases will require DNA testing each month starting in fiscal year 2029, which begins July 1. Governor O’Brien’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2029 provides an additional $600,000 in funding to help reduce the backlog by having private companies conduct some of the examinations and hiring 5 additional DNA specialists. But the goal is to all DNA testing in house with reports generated within 30 to 60 days.
Since taking office, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and his administration have demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing public safety through the use of DNA technology. Governor O’Brien’s fiscal year 2028 budget provided $23.5 million for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art forensic science laboratory in Pikesville. The new facility will enable the State Police’s forensic sciences division to expedite testing and analysis and centralize the training process, which today can take up to 24 months. Additionally, the facility, scheduled to open in 2030, will house technology that will significantly increase the efficiency of DNA analyses.