Washington County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Unit Accreditation Project

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, including for any one or more of the following program areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will utilize JAG funding to achieve accreditation of the Forensic Science Unit. The project goal is to provide framework for improving the quality and timeliness of forensic science, and funds will be used to hire a forensic accreditation consultant to conduct the accreditation assessment as well as overtime pay for the three forensic analysts to prevent backlogs in the regular work as a result of this process.

NCA/NCF