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Orchid Announced First Successes in New Use of DNA to Identify Burglary Suspects

Orchid Collaborates with NYPD in Innovative Pilot Program to Apply DNA Forensics to Hard-to-Solve, Serial Crime of Burglary

16 Nov 2004 - Orchid BioSciences, Inc., announced that it helped the innovative New York City Police Department (NYPD) Biotracks pilot program identify its first burglary suspects by matching DNA from crime scene evidence to DNA databases of convicted criminals. Biotracks, which is currently operating in one borough of New York City, to date has identified 26 suspects in 38 cases, most of which might otherwise have been left unsolved. Orchid proposed this new application of DNA forensic analysis in the U.S. based on its successful experience supporting a similar program in the U.K.
 
These initial suspect identifications are important because burglary affects millions of Americans each year, but the majority of burglary cases go unsolved. DNA testing methods now enable advanced forensic labs like Orchid Cellmark to obtain DNA from the minute amounts of evidence that burglars may leave at the crime scene, such as a cigarette butt, perspiration, and even skin cells on clothing or a partial fingerprint. In the U.K., where DNA evidence is used routinely to solve a variety of crimes, including burglaries, Orchid is a leading provider of rapid turnaround DNA forensic testing services. Orchid's U.S. Cellmark unit leveraged its extensive experience and its long-standing relationship with the NYPD in helping to solve violent crimes to assist in the Biotracks pilot program by providing timely DNA analyses for these lesser offense crimes that are characterized by high recidivism rates. The NYPD is expected to report more detail on the pilot Biotracks program in the coming months to the forensic science and law enforcement communities.
 
The NYPD pilot program is based on the fact that a large proportion of burglaries are committed by repeat offenders whose DNA is already on file in state and federal criminal databases. Orchid Cellmark isolates DNA profiles from evidence recovered at the scene of the burglary, and the profiles are then compared to these criminal databases to identify potential suspects.
 
"Orchid Cellmark's success in conducting high volume DNA analysis in both the U.S. and in the U.K., where use of DNA to help solve burglaries is well-established, positioned us uniquely to partner with the NYPD Biotracks pilot burglary program," said Mark D. Stolorow, executive director of Orchid Cellmark. "As a pioneer in forensic DNA analysis, we are pleased to be a key collaborative partner with the NYPD in establishing this innovative program, which is already generating results."
 
Orchid Cellmark anticipates that a significant number of burglary suspects could be identified by this type of program when fully implemented in the U.S. The potential power of the approach is evidenced in the U.K., where about 40 percent of evidence samples from burglary crime scenes produce a database "hit", thereby identifying the perpetrator. The repeat nature of burglary also means that for each offender convicted, multiple burglaries can be prevented. Even more importantly, criminal justice data indicate that burglars frequently graduate to more serious and violent crimes. Catching burglars therefore also has the potential to prevent future violent crimes from occurring. Biotracks is initially operating in the New York City borough of Queens. Preliminary results are promising, and the Biotracks project could eventually be incorporated into ongoing NYPD forensic activities for the entire city.
 
"Orchid Cellmark is the only U.S. provider of DNA testing services that has experience serving the sophisticated market in the U.K., which leads the world in forensic DNA testing," said Paul J. Kelly, M.D., chief executive officer of Orchid. "This experience makes us well-suited to work with innovators like the NYPD to apply DNA forensics methods to a variety of hard-to-solve crimes in the U.S., where DNA forensics is now beginning to be more widely applied."