Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2024, $294,696)
Montana Code Annotated 44-3-101 establishes the “Montana Forensic Science System Act” authorizing the attorney general to provide the personnel, facilities and procedures to (1) determine the cause of certain types of deaths by such investigation and examination as are in the public interest; (2) analyze specimens for law enforcement officers; and (3) provide reports, including oral testimony, concerning such investigation, examination, and analysis when in the public interest. This is under the authority of the Montana Department of Justice Forensic Science Division. Montana Code Annotated 44-3-201 authorizes the attorney general to appoint the State Medical Examiner who must be a physician licensed to practice medicine in Montana. Our medical examiner’s office functions within the Forensic Science Division and works in collaboration with the State’s independent county coroner system to provide death investigations.
The Montana DOJ-FSD is requesting funds to improve both our forensic analyses services and our death investigation system. A portion of the funds will be applied to addressing the growing needs associated with the testing and analysis of opioids, and funding is also requested to fortify the collaboration between our medical examiner office and the county coroners by providing them with a coroner liaison resource, training, and supplies.
Our objectives for this grant proposal are:
To fund the coroner liaison position
To provide continuing education and training for four (4) forensic scientists and the coroner liaison in 2025 and 2026
To acquire an GC/MS replacement instrument for Chemistry (Opioid-related)
Maintain and expand standard laboratory supplies in both Missoula and Billings facilities (Non-opioid and Opioid-related)
Maintain and expand the laboratory information management system JusticeTrax (Non-Opioid related)
Support the independent county coroner system by providing body bags, fingerprint kits, and digital cameras across the State. (Opioid-related)