Virginia FY2023 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Grant Program

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services serves as the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for FY23 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program funding. The project involves two agencies in Virginia, the Department of Forensic Science (DFS) and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). The purpose pf the DFS project is to carry out the State’s plan to improve the quality of forensic science services by ensuring that DFS forensic and management staff attend continuing education training and maintain up-to-date knowledge, skills, and abilities, and to ensure that DFS can continue to provide forensic services that require the use of gas chromatography.  The purpose of the OCME project is to train forensic pathologist fellows, minimize the time it takes to get toxicology testing results for suspected drug deaths and ensure that medical examiner staff attend continuing education training/seminars and maintain current knowledge, abilities, and skills.