Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
ABOUT COVERDELL
The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program awards grants to states and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services, including services provided by laboratories operated by states and units of local government. Offering both a Competitive Program and a Formula-based Program, recipients of Coverdell funds must use the grant for one or more of these six purposes:
- To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner services in the state, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the state and those operated by units of local government within the state.
- To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, toxicology, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence.
- To train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog.
- To address emerging forensic science issues (such as statistics, contextual bias, and uncertainty of measurement) and emerging forensic science technology (such as high throughput automation, statistical software, and new types of instrumentation).
- To educate and train forensic pathologists.
- To fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate the accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and the certification of medicolegal death investigators.
To learn more about the Coverdell Program and potential funding opportunities,
please visit Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program.
The Coverdell Program assists forensic science laboratories and medical examiner/coroner’s offices to improve their services that are often crucial to the outcome of criminal cases. This program provides flexibility in funding a wide-ranging set of activities performed by approximately 400 publicly funded forensic laboratories in the United States and its territories.
The Coverdell Program supports forensic scientists to receive needed training to comply with certification requirements, as well as for forensic science service provider facilities to obtain and retain accreditation. It provides support to smaller jurisdictions to acquire current technology that they otherwise could not afford and to larger jurisdictions to meet continually growing demands. It supports laboratories in modernizing and maintaining needed analytical equipment and instrumentation. Moreover, the Coverdell Program provides laboratories and medical examiners/coroners with resources to battle the escalating opioid and synthetic drug epidemic.
Key Performance Metrics
From 2011-2020 Coverdell Program funds were used to:
- Analyze more than 1.5 million backlog cases resulting in more than 300 agencies decreasing their backlog cases
- Support more than 16,000 forensic science personnel and more than 2,000 medical examiner personnel to attend training
- Help more than 350 agencies improve their timeliness between sample submission to a forensic laboratory and delivery of test results to a requesting office/agency
- Enable more than 15 agencies to receive initial accreditation and more than 180 agencies/organizations to maintain accreditation between 2017-2020
GRANTEES
This map is representative of all Coverdell Program awards made since 2020.
If you are interested in viewing more award data, please visit the OJP Award Data webpage.
LIST OF GRANTEES
| GRANTEE NAME | STATE | FISCAL YEAR(S) |
|---|---|---|
| ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | AK | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS | AL | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF TUSCALOOSA | AL | 2021 |
| CRIME LABORATORY ARKANSAS | AR | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF GLENDALE | AZ | 2023 |
| CITY OF PHOENIX | AZ | 2020 |
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION ARIZONA | AZ | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF LOS ANGELES | CA | 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF ALAMEDA | CA | 2022 |
| COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES | CA | 2021 |
| COUNTY OF VENTURA | CA | 2020 & 2023 |
| OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES | CA | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF AURORA | CO | 2020 & 2021 |
| COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | CO | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COLORADO SPRINGS CITY GOVERNMENT | CO | 2020 |
| COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE IN THE STATE OF COLORADO | CO | 2023 |
| DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION | CT | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| DC OFFICE OF VICTIM SERVICES | DC | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF DELAWARE | DE | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF CAPE CORAL | FL | 2022 |
| CITY OF ORLANDO | FL | 2023 |
| COUNTY OF BROWARD | FL | 2020 |
| COUNTY OF PINELLAS | FL | 2021 & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF SARASOTA | FL | 2021 |
| FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT | FL | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE | FL | 2022 |
| CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL | GA | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| GOVERNMENT OF GUAM – DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION | GU | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL | HI | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | IA | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| IDAHO STATE POLICE | ID | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF COOK | IL | 2020 |
| ILLINOIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AUTHORITY | IL | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| JUDICIARY COURTS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA | IN | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF JOHNSON | KS | 2020 |
| COUNTY OF SEDGWICK | KS | 2022 |
| EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE STATE OF KANSAS | KS | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY CABINET | KY | 2020, 2021, & 2022 |
| KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE | KY | 2023 |
| LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE | LA | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| ST LANDRY PARISH GOVERNMENT | LA | 2023 |
| CITY OF WORCESTER | MA | 2020 |
| MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE | MA | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND | MD | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND | MD | 2023 |
| MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | ME | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS | MI | 2023 |
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE MICHIGAN | MI | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | MN | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY MISSOURI | MO | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| ST LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI | MO | 2020 |
| MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | MS | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| MONTANA BOARD OF CRIME CONTROL | MT | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF CHARLOTTE | NC | 2021 |
| CITY OF DURHAM | NC | 2021 |
| COUNTY OF GUILFORD | NC | 2020 |
| NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | NC | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| WAKE COUNTY | NC | 2020 |
| NORTH DAKOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL | ND | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| DOUGLAS COUNTY NEBRASKA | NE | 2020 |
| STATE PATROL NEBRASKA | NE | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL | NH | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX | NJ | 2021 |
| COUNTY OF UNION | NJ | 2023 |
| NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY | NJ | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | NM | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF HENDERSON | NV | 2021 |
| CLARK COUNTY CORONER | NV | 2022 |
| LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT | NV | 2020, 2021, & 2023 |
| NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | NV | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF NIAGARA | NY | 2022 & 2023 |
| NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES | NY | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA | OH | 2020 & 2021 |
| COUNTY OF HAMILTON | OH | 2020, 2021, & 2022 |
| COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY | OH | 2020 |
| OHIO OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES | OH | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| OKLAHOMA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS COUNCIL | OK | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF WASHINGTON | OR | 2022 |
| OREGON DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE | OR | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF PHILADELPHIA | PA | 2020 |
| COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY | PA | 2020 & 2021 |
| PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION ON CRIME & DELINQUENCY | PA | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS FORENSES | PR | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | RI | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF CHARLESTON | SC | 2022 |
| SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | SC | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE OF SOUTH DAKOTA | SD | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF RUTHERFORD | TN | 2020 |
| METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE & DAVIDSON COUNTY | TN | 2021 |
| TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION | TN | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| CITY OF AUSTIN | TX | 2023 |
| DALLAS COUNTY TEXAS | TX | 2021 |
| HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER INC | TX | 2023 |
| TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR | TX | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY STATE UTAH | UT | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES | VA | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS | VI | 2020 & 2021 |
| VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | VT | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| COUNTY OF KITTITAS | WA | 2021 |
| COUNTY OF SKAGIT | WA | 2020 |
| WASHINGTON STATE PATROL | WA | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WISCONSIN | WI | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| DIVISION OF JUSTICE & COMMUNITY SERVICES | WV | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WYOMING | WY | 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 |
| LARAMIE COUNTY GOVERNMENT | WY | 2021 |
RESOURCES
Publications
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In conducting this needs assessment, the Department identified the importance of strengthening these types of efforts through the increased use and institutionalization of systems-based approaches. Further, this needs assessment compiles demonstrative evidence of how the field adapts to advancements in technology, changes in the volume and types of forensic evidence...
The National Science and Technology Council’s Fast-Track Action Committee on Strengthening the Medicolegal-Death-Investigation System (FTAC-SMDIS) was chartered in July 2015 to make strategic policy recommendations at the Federal level on how to address issues related to accessing and working with data generated by ME/C offices. The recommendations outlined in this...
This document provides recommended actions that departments and agencies could consider, in a coordinated effort, in order to ensure and possibly accelerate the accreditation and certification of ME/C offices and MDI practitioners, and retention of existing ME/Cs. Consideration of the proposed actions, appropriations to support their implementation, and prioritization and...
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Multi-Media
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ASCLD Train the Directors Series Webinar: Webinar is about case management which can enhance efficiency and reduce backlogs.
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ASCLD Train the Directors Series: This presentation discusses advances and the logistics of transitioning from the legacy workflows of multiple serial analyses to parallel LC/MS/MS and QTOF methods. Key points include budgeting, procurement of equipment, available grant funding, validation, data systems integrations, and methods to transition to new technology.
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The Registry provides detailed information about every known exoneration in the United States since 1989—cases in which a person was wrongly convicted of a crime and later cleared of all the charges based on new evidence of innocence.
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Protocols
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The purpose of this interim policy is to promote the reasoned exercise of investigative, scientific, and prosecutorial discretion in cases that involve forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and searching (‘FGGS’). (Description taken directly from the policy document)
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Research
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Research coming soon.
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Additional Information
HIGHLIGHTS AND EVENTS
Congratulations and welcome to all BJA Forensics Programs FY23 grantees!
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In 2023, the DCS5 Fingerprint Enhancement System, which was funded by the City of Charlotte’s Coverdell award, was used to document processed evidence in a case involving financial crimes and fraud. The case involved 1.9 million USD in checks that were stolen and fraudulently deposited. A single fingerprint impression developed...
The Idaho State Police Forensic Services is using Coverdell funding to ramp up a statewide Question Documents Program. This Program will also service laboratories throughout the country to help address the decreasing availability of Question Documents examination. The Idaho State Police Forensic Service also employed a Coverdell–funded employee to conduct...
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Upcoming Events
No upcoming events.
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Past Events
On behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Team, led by RTI International, is hosting the 1st Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting, scheduled for October 2-3, 2023!
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