Backlog of Samples from Convicted Offenders

States are increasing the number of convicted offenders required to provide DNA samples. (See the National Conference of State Legislatures' State Laws on DNA Data Banks Qualifying Offenses.) Preliminary estimates from 2003 by NIJ place the number of collected, untested convicted offender samples at between 200,000 and 300,000. NIJ also estimates that there are between 500,000 and 1,000,000 convicted offender samples that are owed, but not yet collected.

The Federal government also collects DNA samples from persons convicted of offenses in certain categories, including crimes of violence or terrorism. The FBI currently has a backlog of approximately 18,000 convicted offender samples.