PUERTO RICO FY 2024 PAUL COVERDELL FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT

The PRIFS is an ASCLD-LAB, ANAB, and NAME accredited forensic facility serving the citizens of Puerto Rico since 1985. As the only forensic laboratory in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, it counts with three operational divisions: a) Criminalistics, b) Pathology, and c) Forensic Investigations (CSI).  FY2024 Coverdell funding will be used to achieve one main OPIOID RELATED GOAL: Improve the timeliness of opioid related forensic reports in the Toxicology and Controlled Substances Sections.  NON-OPIOID RELATED GOALS are: 1). Improve the timeliness of forensic reports in the Firearms and Toolmarks, Controlled Substances, Toxicology, Pathology, and Crime Scene Investigations;  2). Improve the quality of forensic reports of all PRIFS Divisions by providing continuing education for forensic scientists; 3) Improve the timeliness of reports by improving the laboratories’information system; 4) Improve the management of Coverdell funds and the financial management and systems of internal controls hiring one administrative assistant.  Through the proposed effort, steps are made towards the capacity enhancement of opioid and non-opioid related cases and improvement of the quality of analysis and timeliness of forensic reports.