Kansas FY 21 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program (formula)

Forensic laboratories are constantly faced with the challenge of increasing caseloads and demand for forensic analyses without an increase in resources. Similarly, laboratories are expected to keep pace with technological advances and equipment capabilities with the current limited funding. The three accredited forensic science laboratories in Kansas will share these funds to: Purchase an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) configuration for toxicology instrumentation; Purchase a homogenizer to facilitate post-mortem tissue sampling; Provide for warranty renewal and protection plan for the IBIS BRASSTRAX Acquisition Station; Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) annual maintenance to facilitate evidence transfers, examinations, reporting, and tracking of laboratory quality metrics; and Purchase a Liquid Chromatography Ultraviolet Spectroscopy Mass Spectrometer (LCUVMS) and nitrogen generator for the Great Bend Chemistry Section. The overall outcomes to be achieved are: Increased efficiency through improved quality and timeliness of forensic services; Reduction of case backlog; Increased testing of opioids and synthetic drugs; and Improved services to the Kansas criminal justice community.