Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $108,332)
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) will use grant funds to facilitate the improvement of the quality and timeliness of statewide forensic science and medical examiner/coroner's officer services.
These funds will directly impact the participating New Mexico forensic laboratories' ability to provide training to forensic laboratory staff and to work toward the elimination of forensic case backlogs.
Today, the state of New Mexico's forensic science and medical examiner/coroner's officer services are experiencing a crisis with over 5,400 untested rape kits, a backlog of over 8,000 cases, and being confronted with one of the highest drug abuse death rates in the nation.
The NMDPS, as State Administering Agency for the State of New Mexico, submits this proposal on behalf of the four primary forensic science and medical examiner laboratories within the state: the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratories Bureau, the Albuquerque Police Metropolitan Forensic Science Center Evidence Unit, the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory Division, and the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.
Working together, the partners have identified joint priorities within the 2017 Statewide Forensic Strategic Plan to enhance their capacity to serve the needs of the New Mexico population.
Specifically funds will be used to support overtime, outsourcing, supply needs, and staff training and education. At the conclusion of the project period, the partners aim to achieve an overall decrease in case backlogs and increase in the number of trained staff in forensic science and medical examiner's officer services available throughout the entire state of New Mexico.
nca/ncf