Orchid Positioned to Provide Increased DNA Testing Services as Landmark New Criminal Justice Law Goes Into Effect

Orchid BioSciences, Inc., a leading worldwide supplier of DNA identity testing services, announced today that it is well-positioned to assist in providing the increased DNA testing services expected to result from a landmark new law recently signed by President Bush -- the "Justice for All Act of 2004," which sets the stage for broad-based DNA testing for law enforcement in the U.S. The legislation authorizes an infusion of more than $1 billion in federal funds over the next five years to eliminate the current backlog of unanalyzed DNA evidence languishing in police department evidence rooms, to afford greater access to DNA testing by convicted offenders and to enable expansion of the FBI Laboratory's national Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS. Through its Orchid Cellmark unit, Orchid is a long-established leader in providing forensic DNA analysis services to law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and the U.K., and in developing innovative ways to expand the utility of DNA testing.

"Through our involvement in literally thousands of criminal cases in nearly all 50 U.S. states and the U.K., currently the most advanced user of forensic DNA analysis in the world, Orchid Cellmark has experienced first hand the power of DNA testing to improve the criminal justice system, so we are well-positioned to accommodate the increasing testing volumes expected to result from this landmark legislation," said Paul J. Kelly, M.D., chief executive officer of Orchid. "As a pioneer and innovator in DNA analysis, we look forward to serving as a key collaborative partner with law enforcement agencies, organizations protecting the innocent, and advocates for victims of crime to ensure that DNA evidence is used in a timely manner to convict the guilty and absolve the innocent."


(02.11.2004)

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