BJA FY 22 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (Formula)

Forensic laboratories have seen a dramatic increase in fentanyl-related deaths. This funding will assist New York State's accredited forensic and medical examiner laboratories in improving the quality and timeliness of forensic science services and reducing backlogs.

This proposal requests funding in the amount of $1,153,849 including New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) State administrative expenses of $115,385.  $669,232 of this award will specifically target the challenges the opioid and synthetic drug crisis has brought to the forensic science community. Of this amount $66,932 will be used by DCJS as administrative expenses related to oversight and compliance on the opioid and synthetic drug related funding. The remaining $602,300 will be distributed evenly to nineteen (19) interested laboratories to target the challenges related to the opioid and synthetic drug crisis. Of the remaining $484,617, $48,453 will be used for DCJS administrative expenses related to oversight and compliance of this funding. The remaining balance of $436,164 will be distributed evenly to the nineteen (19) interested laboratories to provide them with resources to help continue to improve the quality and timeliness of public forensic and medical examiner services.

DCJS will work closely with these laboratories to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of forensic analysis services to their client agencies. These funds will support items, such as laboratory equipment, personnel/fringe, accreditation fees, training, and supplies to support case processing, which will result in trained personnel, increased laboratory efficiency, laboratory staff completing multiple tasks simultaneously, and backlog reductions.