COMBINING EXPERTISE FOR EFFECTIVE JUSTICE

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) provides federal funding through multiple forensic science programs to combat violent crime, resolve cases, lower recidivism, increase public safety, and enhance justice. In collaboration with BJA, the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Program, led by RTI International, offers a team of subject matter experts who provide expertise and assistance to grantees in support of BJA’s overall mission to strengthen America’s criminal justice system.

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS

PROGRAMS

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DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program

The CEBR Program provides federal funding for publicly funded accredited forensic DNA laboratories to process, and increase capacity to process, eligible samples for entry into the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).

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Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program

The MUHR Program provides federal funding to eligible entities so they can improve reporting, transportation, forensic testing, and identification of missing persons and unidentified human remains in the United States, including migrants.

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Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program

The Coverdell Program provides federal funding for states and local government units to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner (ME/C) services.

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Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program

The Postconviction Program provides federal funding for states and local government units to defray the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing in cases of violent felony offenses (as defined by state law) in which actual innocence might be demonstrated.

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Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program

The COLD Program provides federal funding for agencies to resolve violent cold case crimes by providing them with resources to investigate and prosecute cases where a suspect’s DNA profile has been generated.

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Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program

The ME/C Program provides federal funding to help address medicolegal death investigation (MDI) workforce needs to increase the number of practicing board-certified forensic pathologists and to support ME/C offices’ needs to implement and follow quality standards and performance criteria in an effort to provide a consistent and equitable application of MDI services.

HIGHLIGHTS

CEBR Funding Contributes to Approximately Half of All CODIS Hits to Date

Recent performance data from grantees show that CEBR funding is responsible for more than 500 CODIS hits per week. Based on the reported metrics, the CEBR Program has contributed to...

The City of Cape Coral’s uses Coverdell funds to purchase a full-spectral imaging device to support evidence detection and documentation

The City of Cape Coral, Florida utilized Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program funding to purchase a Crime-lite® AUTO for use in homicide investigations. The use of this...

Attorney General Nessel Announces Vacated Wrongful Convictions in Calhoun County

The convictions of Louis Wright, 65, have been vacated pursuant to a collaborative review by the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity Unit, the Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office, the...

Man arrested for 1990 double murder, rape in DeKalb County

An arrest has been made in a 1990 sexual assault and double homicide case out of DeKalb County, Georgia. 55-year-old Kenneth Perry faces multiple charges in connection to the murder...

Marion County Coroner’s Office uses BJA fellowship funding to support the training of a Forensic Pathology Fellow to increase operational capacity

The Marion County Coroner’s Office has a unique fellowship program through their partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine which significantly enhances the education, training, and experience of forensic pathologists...
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Since its inception in 2017, 64 fellowships in the medicolegal death investigation field were funded through BJA’s Strengthening the Medical Examiner/Coroner (ME/C) System Program. This program aims to increase the number of practicing board-certified forensic pathologists, as well as improve the quality and consistency of medical examiner/coroner services provided across the U.S. Learn more about the impact of the ME/C program: https://ow.ly/igQU50UQzbP

Since its inception in 2017, 64 fellowships in the medicolegal death investigation field were funded through BJA’s Strengthening the Medical Examiner/Coroner (ME/C) System Program. This program aims to increase the number of practicing board-certified forensic pathologists, as well as improve the quality and consistency of medical examiner/coroner services provided across the U.S. Learn more about the impact of the ME/C program: ow.ly/igQU50UQzbP ... See MoreSee Less

Did you know that more than 740,000 hours of case review have been performed under the Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program? That represents an estimate of over 350 work years spent reviewing cases to identify those in which the innocence of a person convicted of a violent felony could be proven through further DNA testing. Learn more about how the Postconviction program is making strides in ensuring justice is applied fairly to all cases: https://ow.ly/Ikjv50UQrcP

Did you know that more than 740,000 hours of case review have been performed under the Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program? That represents an estimate of over 350 work years spent reviewing cases to identify those in which the innocence of a person convicted of a violent felony could be proven through further DNA testing. Learn more about how the Postconviction program is making strides in ensuring justice is applied fairly to all cases: ow.ly/Ikjv50UQrcP ... See MoreSee Less

To date, the Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program has supported over 2,200 cases in getting additional DNA testing completed to potentially exonerate an individual. The Postconviction program provides agencies with necessary funding (i.e., for additional personnel, overtime, testing supplies and services) to conduct this additional testing. Learn more about how the program is removing barriers: https://ow.ly/Ikjv50UQrcP

To date, the Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program has supported over 2,200 cases in getting additional DNA testing completed to potentially exonerate an individual. The Postconviction program provides agencies with necessary funding (i.e., for additional personnel, overtime, testing supplies and services) to conduct this additional testing. Learn more about how the program is removing barriers: ow.ly/Ikjv50UQrcP ... See MoreSee Less

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FORENSICS TTA PROGRAM updates

The Forensics TTA Team wants to hear from you!

If BJA Forensics Programs funding has played a role in your organization’s success, no matter how small or how large, we would love to hear about it! Please share your achievements with the Forensics TTA Team by clicking the ‘Submit Highlight’ button.