The new york state division of criminal justice services (dcjs), as the state administrative agency (SAA) is requesting funding to include state administrative expenses of 5% of the total award

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) was awarded a $1,185,827 Formula Grant under the U.S. Department of Justice's Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program (CFDA 16.742). The grant aims to enhance the quality, timeliness, and capabilities of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services across New York.

Of the total award, 56% ($662,653) will specifically target the challenges posed by the opioid and synthetic drug crisis to the forensic science community. The remaining 44% ($523,174) will address non-opioid and synthetic drug-related forensic science needs. The funds will support various initiatives such as purchasing laboratory equipment, providing personnel/fringe benefits, covering accreditation fees, delivering training, and supplying materials to improve case processing and reduce backlogs. The award was granted on October 1, 2024, with a completion date of September 30, 2026.

The DCJS will distribute the award, less administrative costs, evenly among 19 interested laboratories across the state to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in delivering forensic analysis services. Several sub-awards have been made to local government entities, including the City of Yonkers, Onondaga County, Nassau County, Erie County, and Suffolk County, to support specific forensic science, toxicology, and crime laboratory initiatives.

A total of 56% of this award will specifically target the challenges the opioid and synthetic drug crisis has brought to the forensic science community. Of this amount, $32,569 will be used as administrative expenses related to oversight and compliance on the opioid and synthetic drug related funding. The remaining 44% will be distributed to target non-opioid drug and synthetic drug related funding. Of this amount, approximately $25,590 will be used for administrative expenses related to oversight and compliance of non-opioid and synthetic drug related funding. The award amount, less administrative costs, will be distributed evenly to the nineteen (19) interested laboratories to provide them with resources to help continue to improve the quality and timeliness of public forensic and medical examiner services across the state. Dcjs will work closely with these laboratories to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of forensic analysis services to their client agencies. These funds will support items, such as laboratory equipment, personnel/fringe, accreditation fees, training, and supplies to support case processing, which will result in trained personnel, increased laboratory efficiency, laboratory staff completing multiple tasks simultaneously, and backlog reductions.