The DEPARTMENT of the attorney general for the state of hawaii (DEPARTMENT), the designated state administering agency for the FY 2024 paul COVERDELL forensic science improvement grants program…

The Department of the Attorney General for the State of Hawaii was awarded a $294,696 Formula Grant under the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (CFDA 16.742). The grant funding will be used to improve the quality, timeliness, and capabilities of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services in Hawaii. Specifically, the grant will provide $61,217 to address challenges related to the opioid and synthetic drug crisis, $38,420 for other forensic science improvements, and $9,678 for administrative costs. The Department plans to competitively sub-award the remaining $185,381 to eligible forensic laboratories and medical examiner offices in Hawaii to support initiatives such as obtaining accreditation, expanding laboratories, hiring and training staff, upgrading equipment, and reducing forensic analysis backlogs. The grant period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

The DEPARTMENT of the attorney general for the state of hawaii (DEPARTMENT), the designated state administering agency for the FY 2024 paul COVERDELL forensic science improvement grants program formula (COVERDELL) grant, submits this proposal to seek COVERDELL funding to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science services in hawaii. This proposal seeks $109,315 in COVERDELL funding, of which $61,217 (or 56% of the requested funding) may be used to target the challenges that opioid and synthetic drugs have brought to the forensic science community and $38,420 may be used to address challenges unrelated to opioid and synthetic drugs. The DEPARTMENT has retained $9,678 for administrative costs. Administrative costs do not exceed 10% of the requested funding. The DEPARTMENT plans to subcontract the COVERDELL funds to eligible forensic laboratories and medical examiners offices. Subcontract recipients will be selected through a competitive process in late 2024 or early 2025. Subcontract applications will be required to address one or more of the COVERDELL program areas: (1) to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner services in hawaii; (2) to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence; (3) to train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog; (4) to address emerging forensic science issues; (5) to educate and train forensic pathologists; and/or (6) to fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators. The DEPARTMENT anticipates that COVERDELL funding will improve the quality, safety, and/or timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services in the state. Improvements may include obtaining accreditation; expanding laboratories; hiring, training, and/or certifying staff; upgrading equipment; and reducing forensic analysis backlogs.