2017 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Formula

The Division of Scientific Services (DSS) continues to experience budgetary challenges and growing backlogs as approximately 8,000 cases are received annually. The DSS assists numerous agencies: 140 local police departments, 33 state police troops and specialized investigative units, 5 Federal agencies, and 68 fire departments and fire marshal's offices, state's attorneys, public defenders, and other State agencies.

In addition, we serve other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, the New England area, and around the U.S. The target population is the State of Connecticut. Project goals/objectives, expected outcomes, and major deliverables - Connecticut has determined that the best and most effective use of the 2017 Coverdell (Formula) grant is overtime, professional development activities, purchase of supplies and other items to improve services, and reimbursement of annual dues, fees, memberships, and certifications to professional organizations to increase knowledge of laboratory staff. These activities will support improvement in the quality and timeliness of forensic analysis at the Division of Scientific Services.

Funded activities will allow us to better serve our user community as follows: 1. Improvement in investigating agency capability to get timely information to continue investigations 2. Maintenance of backlog at reasonable levels 3. Compliance with ASCLD/LAB International standards in the area of professional development (training and conferences) 4. Continued professional development of staff beyond the required in-house competency training and annual proficiency testing, consistent with its quality manual 5. Enhancement of staff scientific skills 6. Increase in case analysis and decrease in the turnaround time on a case through upgraded technology 7. Increase in turnaround time that law enforcement agencies and State’s Attorneys receive results 8. Promotion of leadership, professionalism, competency, and education in the forensic sciences through books, annual dues, fees, memberships, and certifications to professional organizations.

Funds will support: 1. Travel (training and conferences for staff) 2. Supplies (for SafeFume Automatic Cyanoacrylate Fuming Chambers and Downflow Hoods) 3. Contracts (ASCLD/LAB Internal Auditor Training, Ronald Kelly Technical Reviews) 4. Other Costs including, but not limited to, forensic science books, subscriptions (electronic), and journals, annual dues, fees, memberships, and certifications, registration and workshop fees, and software.

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