FY2008 Congressionally Directed Funding

This proposal outlines the strategy for the delivery of services that will support the goals and objectives of the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs' National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in addressing training needs within the forensic science community such as Solving Cold Cases Using DNA, Trace Evidence, and Pattern Evidence and technology support to various agencies in the justice community. The National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) and the NIJ have partnered to deliver a number of projects over an eight year period and have a successful history of developing and delivering training and technical assistance programs and tools. These deliverables are fundamental resources for today's forensic science practitioners. The proposed programs will provide further opportunities for numerous participants and help to meet the training and continuing professional development (CPD) requirements as well as the technical assistance needs of forensic practitioners.

This award also provides funding to support the maintenance, repair, transportation, and improvement of the deployable forensic laboratory. The NIJ assumes ownership and responsibility of the deployable assets in the fall of 2008. The four deployable laboratory structures will continue to be exhibited at meetings sponsored by various professional forensic science organizations. The funding will not only help to ensure that the laboratories are available for display at such meetings, but also that they are properly maintained and updated with state-of-the-art technology.

In eight years of operations, the NFSTC has provided services to the justice community (including conducting numerous training events) without having to make any major renovations to its Largo, FL facilities. In 2009, the facilities will undergo a facelift that will include painting and upgrading its flooring, furnishings, technology (i.e., computers and telephones), and overall general infrastructure.

nca/ncf