The Courier of Montgomery reports that Montgomery County officials got their first DNA hit from a 2024 case, only days after the Texas Department of Public Safety launched the second phase of their Rapid DNA testing program.
After more than a year of getting things ready, along with training, phase two of the program began October 15th. According to a DPS news release, Montgomery and Williamson Counties law enforcement agencies started sending DNA samples retrieved from people with felony arrest charges into the national DNA Index System.
With the possibility of aiding in identifying suspects in closed cases in almost real time, the technology lets investigators compare DNA samples from people booked into county jails with evidence garnered from crime scenes. No human help is required once a sample is put in the DNA testing instrument.
DNA samples from those arrestees in booking facilities are, at present, sent by way of the postal service to the state CODIS lab at DPS’s Austin headquarters for processing. Serving as the main depository for all DNA records in Texas, DPS oversees CODIS.
Utilizing the technology after taking a sample from a person booked into jail on felony theft charges, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office started entering DNA and on October 23rd recorded an investigative lead in a 2024 case.
No other information was made available as the case is an ongoing investigation.
DPS started a two-year pilot program to test using Rapid DNA technology at booking facilities in the state under Senate Bill 1723 which was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbot on June 20, 2025. The state put $5 million into the program.
For evaluation of future funding and program expansion, at the close of the pilot program in August 2027, DPS will send their results to the Texas Legislature no later than January 1, 2028.
