Iowa Coverdell Forensic Science Formula Grant - 2024

Abstract

Funding is requested to support the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, Criminalistics Laboratory, the Department of Public Health, State Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Waterloo Police Department. 

Criminalistics Laboratory:

The 2024 Base Award will be utilized by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Criminalistics Laboratory to provide overtime for criminalists, and evidence technicians to clear cases and reduce case turnaround time, a part-time criminalist, and equipment to be used to detect and test for opioids and other drugs. 

Department of Public Health, Office of State Medical Examiner:

The 2024 Base Award will be utilized by the Iowa Department of Public Health, Office of State Medical Examiner to provide training to state and local death investigators/pathologists. The funding will also be utilized to contract for autopsies, and to purchase hours from the case management system vendor to provide enhancements to the system to enhance case entry efficiency and reporting capabilities.

Waterloo Police Department

Grant funding will support the Waterloo Police Department’s Forensics Unit in becoming/maintaining accreditation, including training and ongoing proficiency testing.