The proposed 2024 paul coverdell forensic sciences improvement grant program award will be used by louisiana to continue the work and success of previous years efforts and funding

This federal Formula Grant award was provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program (CFDA 16.742). The $294,696 award will be used by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice to continue supporting improvements to the quality, timeliness, and capabilities of forensic science and medical examiner services across Louisiana.

The grant funds will be distributed to six regional forensic laboratories, one coroner's office, and the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Key objectives include eliminating backlogs, purchasing equipment and supplies, providing training, and maintaining accreditation for the recipient laboratories and services. Performance metrics will track the average case processing time, backlog reduction, personnel training, and accreditation maintenance. The grant award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

Efforts will be directed toward the goals of improving the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services, eliminating or reducing the backlog of analysis of forensic science evidence, and training. Lcle will serve as the SAA with 2024 grant funds to six (6) regional forensic laboratories (acadiana criminalistics laboratory, jefferson parish sheriffs office crime lab, north louisiana criminalistics laboratory commission, ST. Tammany parish sheriffs office crime lab, and southwest louisiana criminalistics laboratory, city of new orleans police department crime lab), one (1) coroners office (ST. Tammany parish coroners office) and the louisiana state police crime lab. These funds will be used for specific objectives supporting the above stated goals. Funds will be allocated for travel, training and registration expenses, equipment and supply purchases, equipment maintenance agreements and consultants/contracts. All of these funds are used to keep a crime lab accredited, including keeping equipment up-to-date and validated, crime lab employees certified, etc. Evidence of such activity will manifest itself through the use of quarterly fiscal expenditure reports and program progress reports as well as on-site monitoring visits of sub-grantees. This information will be presented in semiannual progress reports to BJA. Performance metrics captured include: the average number of days to process a sample at the beginning and end of the grant period, the average number of backlogged cases at the beginning and end of the grant period, the number of backlogged forensic cases analyzed with coverdell funds and the number of forensic science and medical examiner personnel training programs. Additional performance metrics captured include: the number of agencies/organizations seeking and obtaining initial accreditation, the number of agencies/organizations using FY2024 funding for fees to maintain accreditation and actual number of agencies/organizations receiving funding. Currently all crime labs in the state of louisiana receiving coverdell funding are accredited by ansi-ASQ national accreditation board in multiple disciplines.