BJA FY24 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (Competitive)

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Crime Laboratory System seeks a Competitive Coverdell Award to purchase and implement a commercial digital data and image acquisition and management system. Goals of this project include implementation of a paperless system with expected improvement in overall quality of the evidentiary images utilized for analysis; increased efficiency of analysis, consultation, and technical review; and backlog reduction through reduced turnaround times for pending cases. An additional benefit includes the ability to manage analysis, comparison, evaluation and verification (ACE-V) activities and documentation to mitigate bias in the friction ridge discipline. By using a software as a service system for digital evidence upload, storage, and control, the images from crime scenes and work products from comparative disciplines can be maintained with greater quality than hard copy case records. High quality images and a reduced need for repetitious data entry will enhance efficiency, as examiners will prepare annotations and charting on-screen and record original observations. Activities will be captured to create and maintain complete records, and additional qualified examiners can conduct concomitant or subsequent ACE-V activities without the influence of annotations and markings inherent to shared hardcopy case files, mitigating potential contextual bias.

Expectations include streamlined comparisons, fewer delays, and high-quality output. A secure electronic platform can foster collaboration across multi-site disciplines and allow for blind verification, consensus panels, and resource sharing. The system will reduce dependency on physical supplies and courier services, ensure security with real-time chain-of-custody tracking, and foster consistent reporting using pre-designed templates.

The award would be sufficient to implement a more efficient workflow in friction ridge, crime scene investigation, and footwear and tire disciplines across the state, followed by firearms and document examination. Project activities include integrating the paperless Software as a Service (SaaS) with other analytical applications presently in use and direct upload of workflow milestones to the current Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

Expected outcomes include increased efficiency, leading to a greater capacity and decreased turnaround time for cases. Coupled with improvements to the quality assurance process, the workflow will reduce backlogs across multiple comparative disciplines. Customers will receive investigative leads and reports more quickly, providing an overall more expedient response to crime by the laboratory and criminal justice system stakeholders.