FY2016 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program

Goals:
The State plan is to attain a turnaround time of less than 45 days for 90% of submissions, reduce backlogs, and improve the quality of forensic services.
Objectives:
1. To improve the timeliness of forensic services and reduce backlogs through the use of overtime pay
2. To improve the quality and timeliness of forensic analysis through purchasing additional software and upgrading existing software

Project plans:
1. Utilize paid overtime to improve turnaround time and reduce backlogs at all four Indiana State Police Laboratories
2. Procure, install, and validate software that will increase case output

Methods:
1. To improve timeliness of forensic services and reduce backlogs, paid overtime will be used for forensic analysis and associated casework tasks. Funding will be used to pay forensic scientists and evidence clerks for overtime in lieu of compensatory time.
2. To improve quality and turnaround time in the Latent Print Unit Biometric Connect software and a footwear Solemate database upgrade will be purchased. The Biometric Connect will ensure the most detailed exemplars are received from archive and directly imported into case notes. The footwear database will be updated to include the most recent manufactured shoes.

nca/ncf