New Mexico Department of Public Safety Paul Coverdell Grant Project

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) is seeking $303,196 in federal funding from the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program to facilitate the improvement of the quality and timeliness of statewide forensic science and medical examiner/coroner’s office services. The NMDPS’ FY24 Paul Coverdell Base Formula proposes to eliminate forensic backlog and provide forensic training for New Mexico. This will directly impact the participating New Mexico forensic laboratories’ abilities to provide training to forensic laboratory staff and work toward the elimination of forensic case backlogs.

    The NMDPS coordinates with four (4) partnering laboratories serving the state of New Mexico’s forensic service needs, namely the NMDPS Forensic Laboratories Bureau (FLB), the Albuquerque Police Metropolitan Forensic Science Center (APD Crime Laboratory), the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory Division (SLD), and the University of New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI). Members of this working alliance meet annually to develop the Statewide Forensic Science Services Plan for Forensic Laboratory Enhancements, which outlines key priorities such as maintaining qualified staff, providing strategic overtime, validating new testing methods, and outsourcing toxicology testing.

    Together through a collaborative effort, the partners have identified the following joint priorities within the 2024 Statewide Forensic Science Services Plan for forensic laboratory enhancements: 1) Training and (re)certification of forensic examiners to reduce backlogs. 2) Strategic overtime for laboratory professionals to handle increased caseloads. 3) Enhanced testing capabilities for emerging drugs. 4) Outsourcing toxicology testing to maintain timely death investigations and accreditations.

    The New Mexico Department of Public Safety’s Grants Management Bureau (NMDPS GMB), as the State Administrating Agency for Department of Justice funds, supports the four (4) partnering forensic laboratories represented by this proposal and submits this application on their behalf.