2015 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program

Problem to be addressed and target area and population - The Division of Scientific Services assists numerous agencies: 140 local police departments, 33 state police troops and specialized investigative units, 5 Federal agencies, and 68 fire departments and fire marshal's offices, state's attorneys, public defenders, and other State agencies. In addition, we serve other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, the New England area, and around the U.S. We also provide technical support and documentation for crime scene services. The target population is the State of Connecticut. Project goals and objectives and expected outcomes and major deliverables - Connecticut has determined that the best and most effective use of the 2015 Coverdell grant is professional development activities, purchase of equipment, supplies, and other items to improve services, and reimbursement of annual dues, fees, memberships, and certifications to professional organizations to increase knowledge of laboratory staff. These activities will support improvement in the quality and timeliness of forensic analysis at the Division of Scientific Services. Funded activities will allow us to better serve our user community as follows: (1) Compliance with American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) International standards in the area of professional development (training and conferences) (2) Continued professional development of staff beyond the required in-house competency training and annual proficiency testing, consistent with its quality manual (3) Enhancement of staff scientific skills (4) Increase in case analysis and decrease in the turnaround time on a case through upgraded technology (5) Increase in time law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys receive results (6) Promotion of leadership, professionalism, competency, and education and encouragement of collaboration in the forensic sciences through books, and annual dues, fees, memberships, and certifications to professional organizations Project strategy or overall program - Funds will support: (1) Travel for training and conferences for Division staff including (2) Equipment (cyanoacrylate fuming chambers, HP Workstation) I (3) Supplies (materials for two-day footwear and questioned documents training class) (4) Contracts (M&P Pistol Armorer training and Glock Armorer's course) (5) Other Costs including, but not limited to, forensic science books, subscriptions {electronic), and journals to fill library and increase the knowledge of staff, annual dues, ees, memberships, and certifications: registration and workshop fees,software, barcode printers, and HP keyboard and mouse set for HP Workstation.

nca/ncf