RCMP lab has two-month turnaround on DNA analysis

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This article was published 03/04/2023 (889 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DNA results for sexual assault investigations should be delivered within 65 days, the RCMP’s national lab says.

That is the service standard timeline set by the RCMP-run National Forensic Laboratory Services, but it’s been taking much longer in some criminal cases to get results.

Months-long delays in obtaining DNA analysis from swabs collected during a forensic sexual assault examination in Winnipeg were flagged last week by the father of an underage complainant.

The exam was conducted last summer, through the Health Sciences Centre’s sexual assault nurse examiner program, but the family was informed initial DNA analysis was only received in January.

The father spoke on the condition of anonymity to raise concerns on behalf of victims, while his family faces a long wait ahead in the ongoing criminal investigation.

On Monday, a spokesperson at the RCMP headquarters stated some requests get priority status, but for routine biology service requests, including analyzing DNA for sexual assault investigations, the standard turnaround time is a little over a month.

Asked for his response about how DNA testing backlogs are affecting criminal cases in the province, Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said: “We share that concern.”

Goertzen said he has raised the issue with the federal government.

“This is part of how we operate in Manitoba and a lot of other provinces where you rely on the national police force, the RCMP, to provide certain services. Often, they’re important for the operation of the courts and for cases, if they proceed. So we’ve expressed our concern on this issue and other issues.”

The national RCMP lab operates sites in Edmonton, Surrey, B.C., and Ottawa.

It conducts DNA analysis for criminal investigations from most provinces and territories, except for Ontario and Quebec, which have their own labs for police use.

The RCMP lab doesn’t send exhibits to private laboratories, but does have a contract for DNA services with an external lab to “supplement capacity,” including for sexual assault investigations, the RCMP spokesperson stated.

“NFLS operates at or near capacity across all programs and therefore turnaround times can be impacted by a number of factors. As noted, the impact of the (COVID-19) pandemic and the subsequent response has had a residual impact on turnaround times across all disciplines,” stated Robin Percival, a spokesperson at the RCMP’s national communications department, in an email responding to a Free Press inquiry.

“An increase in overall service demand can also adversely impact turnaround times, as would a temporary decrease in laboratory capacity.”

katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com