State of Michigan Forensic Science Improvement Grant FY21

The Michigan State Police (MSP) requests FY 2021 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program base funding to improve the quality and timeliness of service delivery in the MSP Forensic Science Division (FSD) as well as the Oakland County Sheriff's Office (OCSO). The requested funding will be used to continue payroll support for two grant-funded positions in the MSP FSD Firearms and Controlled Substances Units to improve throughput and turnaround time and for backlog reduction efforts Division-wide. The MSP FSD is also requesting grant funding to purchase a Liquid Chromatograph - Tandem Mass Spectrometer, which utilizes an instrumental analysis technique that will benefit scope enhancements, decrease turnaround time, and reduce overall backlog. The OCSO requests funding to continue payroll support for one position in the Forensic Science Laboratory's Firearms Unit for a twelve-month period. The OCSO anticipates the Coverdell-funded examiner will complete 180 cases during the grant period and assist the Firearms Unit in maintaining a turnaround time of 30 days or less. The opioid-specific allocation will be used to purchase methadone, buprenorphine, oxycodone, 6-AM, and fentanyl kits to continue testing for the presence of these drugs. The efficient analysis and scientific identification of controlled substances and firearms is critical to keeping cases moving through the criminal justice system and benefits the health and safety of all Michigan residents. Coverdell funding will greatly assist both the MSP FSD and the OCSO in these efforts.