Enhancing Local Law Enforcement - Improving Forensic Crime Scene Investigation

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

The Connecticut Department of Public Safety will utilize fiscal year 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Category III Enhancing Local Law Enforcement funding to purchase a state-of-the-art, latent fingerprint image enhancement system capable of linking existing forensic databases in order to provide a seamless search for examiners. The new technology will reduce the length of time needed to acquire and process latent prints, and to supply results to the field. Training in the use of the system will also be funded.

CA/NCF