FY18 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (Formula)

The North Dakota Office of Attorney General (NDOAG), Crime Laboratory Division is faced with the ongoing need for continuing education, required certification and on-going training needs. In addition, the laboratory faces delays in turnaround times and challenges in improving quality due to the sharing of equipment or the lack of adequate equipment.

Years of severe budget cuts require the laboratory to rely heavily on the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program formula dollars. Fiscal year 2018 funds will be utilized to continue to provide adequate and required training and certification for lab personnel as well as the purchase of a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) for drug chemistry analysis, a SceneBeacon laser light detection system for latent print and biological screening, and toxicology kits for the lab’s Randox Toxicology Drug Screening instrument.

The anticipated outcome is to produce educated and trained analysts that possess adequate knowledge in their specific discipline to provide results and answer questions as requested or required by the legislature, law enforcement, or court proceeding, with confidence and credibility.
In addition, the purchase of instrumentation and supplies will reduce turn-around times for all disciplines involved and well as increase the quality of forensic science services offered by the state.

nca/ncf