Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded Pitkin County, Colorado, $486,884 under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program (CFDA 16.742) on May 1, 2026, to establish the Pitkin County CLEAR (Certification, Learning, Equipment, and Accreditation Reinforcement for Medicolegal) Program. The three-year project, concluding April 30, 2029, will modernize the Pitkin County Coroner's Office medicolegal death investigation services through acquisition of laboratory and case management equipment, staff training and certification, and development of standardized quality assurance protocols. These investments will enable the office to achieve forensic science accreditation and meet national standards for investigation quality, capacity, and timeliness.

To address the opioid and synthetic drug crisis, the project includes hiring a dedicated opioid medicolegal death investigator and acquiring advanced post-mortem toxicology instrumentation to expand drug testing capacity and improve investigation accuracy and speed. The CLEAR Program directly supports BJA's Coverdell program goals to strengthen forensic science capabilities and address emerging threats from controlled substances in rural jurisdictions. Deliverables will enhance scientific integrity, operational efficiency, and public transparency while accelerating case resolution for families and strengthening coordination between law enforcement and public health agencies.