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...

Broward County Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services helps address the national shortage of medical examiners through ME/C funding

Since being awarded grant funding through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program, the Broward County Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services (BCOMETS)...
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Check out this Program Success for the Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program: ME/C funding is being used to build a new facility for Florida’s District One Medical Examiner’s Office. This new facility will allow the office to better serve the four counties in their district, as well as better meet National Association of Medical Examiner (NAME) accreditation requirements. This will be the first-ever standalone medical examiner’s office in their district’s history. Learn more: https://ow.ly/OQEO50Vrtr1

Check out this Program Success for the Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program: ME/C funding is being used to build a new facility for Florida’s District One Medical Examiner’s Office. This new facility will allow the office to better serve the four counties in their district, as well as better meet National Association of Medical Examiner (NAME) accreditation requirements. This will be the first-ever standalone medical examiner’s office in their district’s history. Learn more: ow.ly/OQEO50Vrtr1 ... See MoreSee Less

Attention all Forensics TTA Program Grantees! This is a reminder that you may submit a request to receive additional time to achieve the goals and objectives set forth in your grant project. All extension requests should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the Project Period End Date and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to your assigned BJA grant manager with questions.

Attention all Forensics TTA Program Grantees! This is a reminder that you may submit a request to receive additional time to achieve the goals and objectives set forth in your grant project. All extension requests should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the Project Period End Date and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to your assigned BJA grant manager with questions. ... See MoreSee Less

As Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) continues, we are highlighting the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program. Through this program, states and units of local government with crime laboratories are able to increase the number of forensic DNA samples that are processed and uploaded to CODIS. For sexual assault cases, checking to see if DNA profiles match profiles that have been uploaded to CODIS provides an opportunity for investigators to identify unknown perpetrators and/or link cases together. Learn more about the purpose of the CEBR program on our website: https://ow.ly/BoOO50Vq1x9

As Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) continues, we are highlighting the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program. Through this program, states and units of local government with crime laboratories are able to increase the number of forensic DNA samples that are processed and uploaded to CODIS. For sexual assault cases, checking to see if DNA profiles match profiles that have been uploaded to CODIS provides an opportunity for investigators to identify unknown perpetrators and/or link cases together. Learn more about the purpose of the CEBR program on our website: ow.ly/BoOO50Vq1x9 ... See MoreSee Less

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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.