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.
Explore the additional resources added to the Accreditation Document Repository for Medical Examiner and Coroner (ME/C) Offices today!
This repository provides a collection of example policies, procedures, and related documents to support ME/C offices in achieving accreditation.
Check out our new Legal Document Repository!
This repository provides a collection of legal documents to assist investigators, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals in navigating the legal complexities often associated with cold case investigations and prosecutions.
New on-demand training resource now available!
The Virtual Training for Forensic DNA Professionals: Kinship and Parentage Analysis is now available! Visit the resource webpage to learn more about this course and how to access it.
Check out the 2026 Forensics TTA Calendar of National and Regional Events!
This downloadable resource provides a centralized view of national and large-scale regional conferences, trainings, and other events of interest to BJA Forensics Programs grantees occurring in 2026.
KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
- >1.8 million cases completed
- >3.9 million database samples completed
- >790,000 forensic (crime scene) profiles uploaded to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
- >3.7 million database profiles uploaded to CODIS
- >360,000 CODIS hits
Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Since its inception in 2022, MUHR Program funds were used to:
- Make >800 identifications
- >240 identifications were made using fingerprints
- >300 identifications were made using traditional DNA analysis
- Repatriate >500 cases to relatives or next of kin
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
From FY2011-FY2023 Coverdell Program funds were used to:
- Analyze >2 million backlogged cases resulting in >450 agencies decreasing their backlogged cases
- Support >170,000 hours of training for forensic personnel, >15,500 hours of training for medical examiners/coroners, and >6,500 hours of training for pathologists
- Help >400 agencies improve their timeliness in case analysis
- Enable >40 agencies obtain initial accreditation between FY2017-FY2023
- Help >150 forensic personnel complete certification between FY2021-FY2023
- Identify the presence of controlled substances in >85% of seized drug cases tested between FY2021-FY2023
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
- >740,000 hours of case review performed, representing an estimate of >350 work years
- >2,200 cases where DNA analysis was performed
- >350 profiles uploaded to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and >100 CODIS hits
- >55,000 new cases reviewed and >125,000 continuing cases reviewed with current and previous grant funding
- 65 exonerations have resulted from this program representing >1,200 years served in prison
Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
Since 2019, COLD Program funds were used to:
- Identify >175 suspects who were previously unknown, including >50 identifications as a result of Forensic Genetic Genealogy
- Prosecute >45 cases that have resulted in convictions
- Charge or indict >100 cases
- Resolve/close >150 cold cases
Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
Fellowship/Purpose Area 1:
- 74 fellowships funded
- 60 participants completed fellowship training
- 14,931 deaths investigated by fellows
- 15,372 autopsies performed by fellows
Accreditation/Purpose Area 2:
- 178 individuals sought certification
- 62 individuals achieved certification
- 21 organizations achieved accreditation
PROGRAMS
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office recently restored the name of Jose Francisco Reyes Ortega, who had remained unidentified since his recovery in 1986. Working with the Fort Worth Police Department, archived evidence was recovered from the original investigation for renewed forensic evaluation. Fingerprint analysts developed usable prints and submitted them to multiple databases, resulting in a positive identification nearly 40 years later. Supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, this case highlights the value of revisiting archived evidence and applying current forensic resources to unresolved identifications. Read more about this case success: ow.ly/p8kC50ZSbAB #missingpersons #unidentifiedpersons #unidentifiedhumanremains #humanidentification #fingerprints #forensicprocessing #forensics #caseresolution #missingpersoninvestigations #crimescene #fingerprint #dna OJP Bureau of Justice Assistance; Tarrant County; Fort Worth Police Department
Nearly 30 years after Terri Turachak was murdered in her Denver apartment, sustained investigative work and forensic DNA testing helped bring the case to a close. DNA evidence identified Ricky Dawson as a suspect, leading to charges in 2023 and a conviction in March 2026. On April 29, 2026, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Supported through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program, this outcome demonstrates how preserved evidence, modern forensic methods, and persistent collaboration can advance long-unsolved cases. Read more about this case success: ow.ly/2xCA50ZSbpj #coldcase #violentcoldcase #dna #forensicDNA #investigation #prosecution #conviction #caseresolution #forensics #justice #unsolvedcase #evidenceexamination #evidenceanalysis #advancedtechnology #forensictechnology OJP Bureau of Justice Assistance; Denver District Attorney's Office; Denver Police Department; National District Attorneys Association
Plan ahead with the updated 2026 Forensics TTA Calendar of National and Regional Events! This downloadable resource brings together conferences, trainings, meetings, and other convenings relevant to Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Forensics Program grantees. Color-coded entries make it easy to identify event types, and each listing provides key details and a direct path to information about registration, travel, lodging, and agendas. Use the calendar to coordinate event participation and identify opportunities to learn and connect throughout the year: ow.ly/8lbF50ZSbVn #Forensics #forensicscience #medicalexaminer #Coroner #laboratory #training #education National District Attorneys Association; American Academy of Forensic Sciences; International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners - IACME; National Association of Medical Examiners; The Innocence Network; ASCLD; Society of Forensic Toxicologists; OJP Bureau of Justice Assistance; International Association of Chiefs of Police; ISHI News
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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.