FY 2018 Paul Coverdell Forensic Grant Improvement Program - Formula Grant

The Mississippi Forensics Laboratory (MSFL), an ASCLD/LAB-International, ISO 17025 accredited system, is the state funded forensic laboratory consisting of a central full-service laboratory in Pearl and three regional laboratories located in Batesville, Meridian and the Gulf Coast.
The goal of the 2018 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program is to provide laboratories with the tools needed to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic services that they provide.

The MSFL proposes to accomplish this goal by reducing the backlog of forensic casework and improving the quality of services. Funds will be used to provide overtime funds for existing Drug Chemists to analyze controlled substances cases more than 30 days from date of submission to the laboratory and to purchase a TOF LSMS instrument to address the analysis of synthetic opioids and other complex drugs of abuse. Continuing education for the forensic scientists in their area of expertise will be provided for their individual certification requirements. Annual maintenance fees associated with the accreditation of the MSFL by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors//Laboratory Accreditation Board: ANAB for January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 will be funded.
Deliverables include a reduction in the average number of days from the submission of an examination request to the completion of test results and the overall backlog of the Drug Chemistry Section and improvement in toxicological services. Certified analysts will maintain their professional status by acquiring continuing education units and the MSFL will maintain its accreditation.
nca/ncf