ABOUT US
BJA Forensics Portfolio

Established in 1984, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks to strengthen communities by supporting jurisdictions across the United States to overcome challenges faced by the criminal justice system. BJA’s overarching mission is to enhance community safety through providing resources and developing policies to support state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. To accomplish this mission, BJA collaborates with communities, governments, and nonprofit organizations to address violent crime, recidivism, and unnecessary confinement.
In alignment with their mission, BJA’s Forensics Unit provides federal funding through the following forensic science programs to combat violent crime, resolve cases, lower recidivism, increase public safety, and enhance justice:
- DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program (competitive and formula)
- Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program (competitive)
- National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) (competitive)
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program (competitive and formula)
- Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program (competitive)
- Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program (competitive)
- Strengthening the Medical Examiner–Coroner (ME/C) System Program (competitive)
To learn more about these programs view the BJA Forensics Unit Programs Fact Sheet.
BJA offers states, units of local government, and other forensic science service providers a wide range of resources through these forensic science programs. Geared toward addressing systemic and emerging criminal justice challenges, these programs work to increase capacity and efficiency, improve services, meet workload demands, and advance the reliability and consistency of forensic science services. Through bridging resource gaps within the field, BJA’s forensic science programs strive to facilitate enhanced community safety and achieve widespread criminal justice reform.
MEET THE BJA TEAM
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BJA Policy Office
Forensics Unit, Law Enforcement
Operations Division -
BJA Programs Office
Division 9
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BJA Operations Office
Budget and Performance
Division
Angela Williamson
Forensics Unit Supervisor
Andrea Borchardt
Senior Policy Advisor – Forensics
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
Thurston
Bryant
Senior Policy Advisor
Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program
Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
Carey A. Hendricks
Policy Advisor – Forensics
- Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
SUPPORT STAFF
Hannah
Barcus
Associate (Contractor)
Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
Vanessa Castellanos
Associate (Contractor)
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
Lindsay
DePalma
Associate (Contractor)
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program
Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
Alan C. Spanbauer
Division Director
Tahitia Barringer
State Policy Advisor
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Monte E. Evans II
State Policy Advisor
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
Ebony Mack
State Policy Advisor
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Kathryn Manning
State Policy Advisor
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
Caroline Shriver
State Policy Advisor
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program
Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Christine Torres
State Policy Advisor
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Jimmy Steyee
Program Specialist (Performance Management)
Michael Adams
Senior Research Associate (Contractor)
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
Nichole Norvesh
Research Associate (Contractor)
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
FORENSICS TTA PROGRAM

The Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) program, led by RTI International in collaboration with a team of subject matter experts, offers expertise and assistance to grantees of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) forensic science programs.
The Forensics TTA program provides TTA supporting BJA forensics programs grantees to meet strategic goals and objectives, implement national recommendations into policy, enhance capacity and outcomes, and foster sustainability through the implementation of new technologies to enhance existing policies and practices. This assistance is accomplished by offering a variety of services, including the following:
- Proactive engagement with grantees to develop materials based upon agency needs
- Training and educational sessions (e.g., webinars, working groups) developed by subject matter experts
- Remote guidance on forensic-related issues
- Assistance in increasing site capacity
- Efforts to translate lessons to the field
The Forensics TTA program aims to improve the quality of forensic science services performed by BJA forensic program grantees through innovative solutions that embody development, technology, information sharing, training, and best practices resource development. Through enhancing the services provided by BJA forensic program grantees, the Forensics TTA program seeks to empower grantees to meet current challenges in forensic science and increase public safety across the nation.
If you have questions for the Forensics TTA team, please reach out to ForensicsTTA@rti.org.
MEET THE FORENSICS TTA TEAM
- Project Directors
- Coaching Team
- Operations Team
Patricia Melton
Project Director
Ashley Rodriguez
Project Co-Director
Jason Chute
Lead Coach
- DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
- Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
Dustin Driscoll
Lead Coach
- Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Erica Christensen
Lead Coach
- Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
Lindsey Wade
Lead Coach
- Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program