BJA FY 21 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (formula)

Idaho State Police Forensic Services (ISPFS) provides forensic services for 1.6 million people in the state of Idaho.  There has been a 12% increase in controlled substance (CS) cases finished in Idaho in the last two years and significant increases every year previous.  ISP also has a staffing issue in the firearms discipline with only two firearms analysts, one of which retires soon.  ISPFS recently achieved ISO 17025:2017 accreditation status for the breath alcohol instrument calibration program.  As a result, the frequency of calibrations required for each instrument has increased, dramatically increasing the workload of the discipline scientists.  In addition, all calibrations must be done in the forensic services laboratory, increasing the travel time to pick up instruments and drop them off after calibration has been completed.  A technician is needed to keep up with the workload in the discipline.

     ISPFS will use all the Coverdell funds to continue employment of two contract employees (one two in Chemistry/Controlled Substance Analysis and one in Firearms/Toolmarks) for the period of one year. ISPFS will also hire a Breath Alcohol Technician to manage the increase in breath alcohol instrument calibrations state-wide. 

     The outcome is to get casework done and maintain current turnaround times as casework continues to increase in these disciplines.

     ISPFS will increase laboratory capacity by adding forensic document examination to the scope of laboratory services and clear the backlog of Idaho cases needing this examination.  Washington State Patrol was performing this analysis for Idaho law enforcement agencies and no longer has the capability to do so.  ISPFS needs to develop manuals, obtain accreditation, train staff to competency, and start performing this analysis for Idaho law enforcement and courts.  ISPFS will add a two contractors to provide the manual work, the training for our staff, and the casework until our staff are fully trained.    

     ISPFS has added, and continues to add, new staff under this grant and with state funding.  Those analysts need training regarding courtroom testimony.  We plan to use funding to bring in a high quality class that includes moot court evaluation.  Adding the question documents section has necessitated new instrumentation needs to help QD cases throughout the country.  We need those cases so we get accredited in the discipline.  The lab also has a critical need for a microscope for new chemists and to have a new ballistic box to recover bullets in the firearms discipline.  Finally, the laboratory needs a new meth blender to keep up with the demand for methamphetamine quantitation.