FY2022 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Formula

South Dakota intends to utilize the award to help with the foundation of improving the lab services.  The SDFL provides services to all law enforcement in South Dakota, including local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement.  This year, our laboratory hopes to utilize this award to obtain additional equipment to include a comparison microscope and automate to reduce the bottleneck of examiners waiting to use equipment.  We currently have sign up days to use the equipment and if more examiners could use equipment at once, it would decrease turnaround time and improve efficiency.  In addition, our lab would like to update our DNA services into genotyping possibilities to ensure the best possible, and most accurate analysis when law enforcement send us their evidence.  In attempt to decrease our firearms backlog, we have contracted with Ron Smith and Associates to assist us with our casework.  Funding would offset those costs.   In addition, renovations to the evidence section are needed to replace worn flooring and old office furniture.  We would like to change the layout of that section to be more accessible for our customers and more streamlined for our employees.  Finally, Coverdell funding would be used for the annual maintenance for our BEAST LIMS system.