FY21 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Formula

The Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory is requesting funds to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science services through the purchase of critical equipment and overtime. The following initiatives are to assist with the opioid abuse crisis the Drug Unit has encountered: funds to support overtime for the Drug Unit to assist in increasing the case output and decreasing the backlog, funding to purchase a new GC-MS instrument for more efficient case processing. In addition, the Crime Scene Services Section would like to fund the purchase of ten camera kits for more advanced crime scene photographs, including death scenes as a result of drug overdoses, the Trace, Arson and Explosive unit would like fund the purchase of an Oxford AztecGSR instrument to assist with more efficient GSR testing and the Firearms Identification Section is also seeking to purchase a new Leeds comparison microscope to replace an outdated unit. Additionally, the MSPCL would like to fund overtime for the Trace Arson and Explosive Unit to assist with decreasing the backlog. The items and overtime for the Drug Unit and CSSS are directly related to the opioid crisis. The MSPCL has also seen a correlation between the rise in drug related crime and the use of firearms and are seeking the GSR instrument and comparison microscope in relation to assisting in the opioid abuse crisis.