South Raleigh News

Attorney General Josh Stein announced today that the North Carolina State Crime Lab achieved 1,466 CODIS hits in the past fiscal year, surpassing the previous record of 1,382 hits set in fiscal year 2023. The State Crime Lab is responsible for analyzing evidence and uploading DNA to CODIS, a system comprising local, state, and national criminal justice DNA databases. A hit occurs when a DNA sample matches an individual with a prior conviction or arrest already in the CODIS system or when evidence is matched through forensic casework.

“I am incredibly grateful for the hard-working scientists at the State Crime Lab who test and analyze evidence,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “Thanks to their dedication and expertise, law enforcement continues to take dangerous criminals off the street and make North Carolina safer and stronger.”

In June 2024 alone, the State Crime Lab uploaded 991 samples to the CODIS database, resulting in 65 hits from individuals arrested or convicted of offenses requiring DNA collection and from forensic analysis evidence. Since adopting the CODIS system, the lab has recorded over 11,480 hits aiding more than 9,200 law enforcement investigations. This includes a notable case in April where Attorney General Stein announced that convicted rapist Samuel Harris pleaded guilty and will serve two 15-year prison terms.

This update follows Attorney General Stein’s March announcement that North Carolina has resolved its rape kit backlog. The North Carolina Department of Justice maintains transparency about testing kits and updating CODIS databases on their website at www.ncdoj.gov/testthekits.

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