Maine's FY24 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program

The Maine Department of Public Safety is submitting this application on behalf of the three State of Maine forensic science laboratories. They are the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory (MSPCL), Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), and the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL). All the labs experience issues with staff training, equipment, and backlogs.

The MSPCL intends to use the FY 2024 Coverdell Funds for continued forensic science education and other high-quality field related training for the Evidence Response Team.  As a result, the training will improve the quality and timeliness of work performed.  Funding will assist in the purchase supplies, equipment, maintenance/service contracts and software upgrades. MSPCL would continue to support the professional development of the staff with the latest industry trainings and professional conferences in their field of expertise. 

The OCME plans to use the FY 2024 Coverdell funds for continuation of contracted board-certified forensic pathologists in order to investigate a higher percentage of deaths in Maine, without increasing burn-out of the full-time staff. The contracted staff were primarily used to cover weekends. Maine has the ability to conduct autopsies seven days a week with this funding. Some funding will be used for weekend coverage by a forensic pathologist and a Medical Examiner Assistant. Funding will be used for the Chief and Deputy Chief Medical Examiners to attend two major national forensic science conferences to stay current on topics in the field and maintain a working relationship with other offices and agencies.  The rest of the funding will be used for equipment and supplies.

The HETL intends to use the FY 2024 Coverdell Funds to cover the cost of web-based continuing education and professional memberships. HETL proposes to use grant funds to purchase analyst proficiency testing. HETL will use the funding to purchase a forensic specific LIMs system that will provide the functionality that is needed for a forensic testing laboratory. HETL will also use funding for the annual license for SAFE/Tracker software that allows HETL to accept evidence from other State agencies also using the software and utilize electronic chain of custody. Additionally, HETL proposed to use grant funds to purchase one Masshunter Data Analysis software license that shall allow the laboratory to install Masshunter software on a computer outside the direct laboratory space.