Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $2,000,000)
The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
The Delaware State University (DSU) will continue the design and implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology addressing increasing demands of secure smart card identification and access control solutions. They will use RFID technology will to deploy law enforcement accountability, emergency management, personnel control, and evidence/property control (Chain of Custody), in addition to developing new technologies to address operational challenges nationwide. DSU will add an additional 3000 credentials to compliment the initial 1000 issued under the initial phase of this project and the new technology will be used with handheld units to establish scene control for Delaware law enforcement at crime scenes.
Phase two of the project, funded by this award, will move technical development from the alpha to beta testing stage. Thereafter, systems will be deployed in targeted agencies across the State of Delaware, enabling a mobile major crimes investigation response unit for use by all law enforcement agencies statewide. In addition, a new academic study and research initiative will be launched focusing on the legal implications and the impact of deployed systems including potential impacts on chain of custody issues nationwide.
NCA/NCF