2019 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program

Requests for forensic services are handled by six Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) regional crime laboratories, and five independent county laboratories. Florida’s Division of Investigative and Forensic Services handles arson investigations and death investigations are handled by district medical examiners governed by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission (MEC). FDLE submits the application for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant formula funds on behalf of all crime laboratories system, the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services and the MEC. Through self-assessment, the state and local laboratories and medical examiner offices have identified and prioritized their agencies’ needs, and are requesting Coverdell funds for temporary personnel, equipment, training, supplies and contract services to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic and medical examiner services throughout the State to meet the following goals: 1) Reduce analysis time for cases submitted to crime laboratories; 2) Reduce backlogs in the analysis of non-biology forensic science evidence; 3) Improve timeliness of medical examiner services throughout Florida; and 4) Train forensic laboratory and medical examiner personnel. NCA/NCF