The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has launched a public dashboard on its website tracking the agency’s progress in tackling a backlog of sexual assault kit testing. 

At the end of last year, the turnaround time for DNA tests had grown to over 500 days. The backlog is due to several factors, including understaffing, increased caseloads, and the Missy Woods scandal, in which a former CBI forensic scientist was charged with over 100 felony counts for allegedly mishandling DNA evidence. 

“We acknowledge it is taking us too long to complete DNA cases. We are committed to an aggressive plan to bring this turnaround time down to our goal of 90 days as quickly as possible,” said CBI Director Chris Schaefer. “We understand the importance of timely processing of sexual assault kits and the impact this backlog has on survivors. This dashboard demonstrates our commitment to transparency and accountability as we work diligently to overcome the extraordinary circumstances that contributed to this issue and to eliminate the backlog and bring justice to survivors.”

The bureau said CBI’s DNA analysts spent about half their time last year reviewing the over 10,000 cases Woods worked on during her nearly three-decade career.

To address the sexual assault case backlog, which currently sits at 1,400 cases, CBI says it’s implementing a “multi-pronged” approach, including outsourcing cases to third-party laboratories.

“The CBI acknowledges the significant impact of the Woods investigation on lab operations and appreciates the support from the Governor’s Office and state lawmakers in providing the necessary funding to address this critical issue,” the bureau said. “The public dashboard will provide ongoing updates as the agency works to eliminate the backlog and improve the timeliness of sexual assault kit testing.”

CBI expects the first positive decline in caseload to occur in July and hopes to cut the backlog in half next year.