The District of Columbia's State Administering Agency Office of Victim Services & Justice Grants, will collaborate with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Department of Forensic Science

The Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG) is the District of Columbia's State Administering Agency for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program. OVSJG will subaward grant funds to the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), which investigates and certifies all deaths in the District of Columbia. The OCME continues to be impacted by the volume and type of drug overdose deaths in the District. To adequately address the opioid epidemic, it is critical that staff stay abreast of new and emerging trends in forensic science. Training opportunities will provide requisite educational techniques, as well as assist in maintaining certifications/licenses. Funds will support training opportunities for OCME's scientific staff members to attend national forensic conferences providing the latest and most current information in continuing medical education and procure contracts and contractual services for IT service maintenance.