Minnesota Coverdell 2018 Grant

Forensic Science services are provided to the citizens of Minnesota primarily by five accredited laboratories, the MN BCA Forensic Science Service (BCA FSS), the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab Unit (HCSO-CLU), the Minneapolis Police Department Crime Lab Unit (MPD CLU), the Tri-County Regional Forensic Laboratory (Tri-County) and the St. Paul Police Department forensic Services Unit (SPP-FSU).

The directors of all five laboratories have agreed on a state plan that divides the funds available based on the population served by each agency. This year, the plan calls for three of the five laboratories, BCA FSS, HCSO, and SPP FSU, to take part in the formula grant application. The plan allows the managers of each agency to determine how best to utilize their portion of the grant based on the needs of the organization and the amount of funding available.

The BCA FSS will utilize its portion of the grant to address the increase of cases submitted due in part to the increase in opioid related investigations in the State. Grant funding will be used to provide overtime hours to perform analysis on opioid related and other backlogged cases. It will also provide funding for the purchase of updated instrumentation which will confirm the identity of opioids and other drugs submitted to the laboratory. The expected outcome is for the BCA to provide more timely results, especially for drug related cases, to the citizens of Minnesota.

The HSCO-CLU will utilize grant funds to send forensic scientists to training, including ISHI, ASCLD, AFTE, Bode DNA and IAI. HSCO-CLU will also hire a forensic consultant to present a two-day workshop on advanced leadership methods and professional career practices in forensic science organizations.

The SPPD-FSU plans to purchase a new FARO FocusM 70 scanner and associated supplies.
The Minnesota Office of Justice Programs will administer subgrants and coordinate reporting to NIJ.

nca/ncf