Questions answered in this file

Are there federal grants for cold case DNA testing?

Yes. Department of Justice programs, such as BJA's Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA, have funded eligible state and local cold case work.

Can families apply for these grants directly?

Generally no. Grants usually go to government agencies, prosecutors and labs, but families can ask whether their case could qualify.

What do cold case DNA grants usually pay for?

Activities such as reviewing eligible cases, analysing biological evidence and investigating or prosecuting cases where DNA produced a lead.

Does every unsolved case qualify for funding?

No. Programs set criteria, often including available biological evidence and potential to identify a suspect, which change between funding years.

Should I pay a private service to test evidence?

Be cautious. Testing normally requires agency cooperation, so confirm any arrangement directly with the investigating agency before paying.