Innovative solution enables greater accuracy, efficiency, and transparency in forensic investigations.
InVita Healthcare Technologies, a leader in specialized software for forensics, medical, and community care environments, announced today the successful deployment of its Forensic Hit Outcome Tracking System for the Alaska Department of Public Safety (AK DPS). This collaborative effort addresses critical gaps in managing, tracking, and reporting the outcomes of CODIS hits, providing a more efficient and transparent approach to forensic hit investigations.
The development of this system stemmed from recommendations by Alaska’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Working Group, which identified the need for a statewide program that tracks the outcomes of CODIS hits with the goal of increasing accountability, follow-up, and interagency communication between laboratories, law enforcement, prosecutors, and policy centers.
Obtaining a CODIS match and notifying investigators is only half the battle. Laboratories spend countless hours working to find links between violent crimes and the individuals perpetrating them, often unsure if investigators receive and act on their hit notifications due to cumbersome process of manual follow-ups. This requires navigating through case files, making phone calls, and sending emails to confirm a hit’s status. Delays and errors in an investigation can cost lives. An easier, more transparent way was needed for criminal justice investigators to receive, organize, and manage hit outcomes that can impact investigations.
Considering the rapid advancement of DNA technology and the increasing volume of CODIS matches, it is essential investigators are equipped with the necessary tools to navigate this complex environment. InVita’s Forensic Hit Outcome Tracking System offers a streamlined solution. Integrating with the LIMS system, it manages the entire forensic hit process, tracking hit letter receipts, investigation statuses, turnaround times, and post-hit actions. Automated notifications and reminders ensure timely acknowledgements and case dispositions, increasing accountability and transparency across law enforcement, laboratories, prosecutors, and policy centers. Putting this system in place addresses the gaps in tracking the outcomes of each hit investigation.
“We are grateful to partner with Alaska DPS in developing a solution that automates the forensic hit process,” said Todd Collins, President and CEO at InVita. “This system allows investigators to concentrate on processing evidence and advancing investigations rather than spending lengthy time manually contacting investigators.”
About InVita Healthcare Technologies
InVita Healthcare Technologies is a leading provider of specialized software for forensics, medical, and community care environments. Our DNA and Forensics division offers highly configurable software for forensic labs and public health agencies. Our solutions comply with complex regulations, enhance transparency and gain efficiency in DNA and Forensic Sample Management.
