The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has decided to sever its relationship with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for DNA testing, citing concerns over testing backlogs and quality control issues. This decision comes in the wake of the “Missy” Wood investigation, which revealed significant mishandling of DNA evidence by a former CBI forensic scientist.

Sheriff Curtis Johnson announced the decision in a letter to CBI Director Curtis Schaefer, highlighting recent challenges with DNA analysis and the processing times for sexual assault kits. The backlog for rape kit testing in Colorado has exceeded 500 days, a delay that has been deemed unacceptable by many in the law enforcement community. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office will now rely on the Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory for DNA testing, which promises to provide results in fewer than 100 days.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty of the 20th Judicial District (Boulder County) expressed his support for the move, emphasizing the importance of timely justice for victims. He noted that the prolonged wait times for DNA results have undermined public trust in the justice system. The switch to the Jefferson County lab, however, comes at an additional cost to taxpayers, with Boulder County Commissioners approving a $100,000 annual contract to cover some of the expenses.

Despite the change, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office will continue to use CBI for other services, including fire debris analysis, explosives, toxicology, gunshot residue, and trace testing. The CBI has acknowledged the backlog issues and is working to address them by contracting additional outside labs to eliminate the backlog and reduce turnaround times.

The decision by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office reflects a broader concern within the law enforcement community about the reliability and efficiency of DNA testing services. As the CBI works to improve its processes, other agencies may follow Boulder County’s lead in seeking alternative solutions to ensure timely and accurate DNA analysis.

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