2019 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Competitive

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (NYC OCME) is the largest medical examiner’s office in the country. The agency relies on highly trained personnel from numerous internal departments to provide forensic information relevant to the determination of cause and manner of death, as well as decedent identification. Forensic excellence at the NYC OCME needs to be sustained by three pillars: 1) maintaining gold standard laboratory accreditations from programs such as the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB); 2) maintaining staff professional certifications through continuing education activities; and 3) providing training through the Visiting Scientist Program (VSP). To support the three pillars of forensic excellence at the NYC OCME, Coverdell funding is requested for the following needs: 1) maintenance of laboratory accreditations for the Forensic Anthropology and Molecular Genetics Laboratories, 2) continuing education activities for Medical Examiners, Forensic Anthropologists, Medicolegal Investigators, and Geneticists, and 3) training of external forensic anthropologists through the established VSP. Maintaining forensic excellence is essential for NYC OCME to fulfill the commitment in serving justice and the public, as well as in providing answers to families and communities during their most challenging times. CA/NCF