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Postconviction Program
16.820
This program’s primary goal is to assist states and units of local government with postconviction DNA testing in cases of violent felony offenses where actual innocence might be demonstrated. Funded projects are expected to implement some aspect of each of the following activities: 1. Identify potential postconviction DNA testing cases.. 2. Review appropriate postconviction cases to identify those in which DNA testing could prove the actual innocence of a person convicted of a violent felony offense as defined by state law. 3. Locate biological evidence associated with such postconviction cases. 4. Perform DNA analysis of appropriate biological evidence. 5. Locate, record, store, and retain biological evidence in adjudicated cases in accordance with best practices. 6. Modernize evidence retention practices for biological evidence in accordance with best practices. 7. Modernize and digitize the storage of existing files and records in adjudicated cases. 8. Implement modern, digitized file and record retention systems. Performance Measure 1: Number of new cases reviewed; and, Performance Measure 2: Number of exonerations.
This chart shows obligations for the program by fiscal year. All data for this chart was provided by the
administering agency and sourced from SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and Treasury.gov.
For more information on each of these data sources, please see the
About the data page.
As of June 2018, grantees have reported over 96,000 cases reviewed, over 3,500 pieces of evidence analyzed, and 47 exonerations over the history of the program.
In FY 2017, 8 applications were received and 6 applications were funded. In FY 2018, 11 applications were received and 9 are anticipated to be funded. In FY 2019, it is anticipated that approximately 12 applications will be received, and 9 are likely to be funded.
In FY 2018, 11 applications were received and 9 applications were funded.
As of January 2019, grantees have reported over 109,000 cases reviewed, over 4,000 pieces of evidence analyzed, and 52 exonerations over the history of the program.
Through BJA’s Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence Program, more than $6 million was provided to help defray costs associated with identifying and reviewing postconviction DNA cases to help overturn wrongful convictions.
Please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/program/postconviction-testing-dna-evidence/overview for information.
Please see https://bja.ojp.gov/doc/fs-postconviction-testing-of-dna-evidence.pdf
The program has awarded more than 120 grants totaling more than $87,000,000. This has supported the review of than 180,000 cases consisting of more than 700,000 of review time resulting the DNA analysis of more than 2,000 cases. Though exonerations are not the sole measure of program success, 64 exonerations have resulted from this program representing more than 1,400 years unjustly served in prison.
Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):
For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.
OMB is working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency offices of inspectors general to include links to relevant oversight reports. This section will be updated once this information is made available.
