FY2015 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science (PCNFS) Improvement Program

As the demands on crime laboratories continue to increase, it is essential for crime laboratory personnel, in all forensic science disciplines, to be adequately trained, competent, and proficient in the latest forensic technologies and methodologies. As a result, training and certification are key to Missouri's statewide plan to improve the delivery and quality of forensic science services its crime laboratories provide to the law enforcement communities they serve. The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) will coordinate with the Missouri Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (MACLD) to use Missouri's portion of base funding from the FY 2015 Paul Coverdell Forensics Science Improvement Grants Program to provide forensic science training and certification for the personnel of Missouri's crime laboratories. This is a continuing Coverdell-funded program that will provide professional training in a variety of forensic science disciplines, including Crime Scene, DNA/Biology, Drug Chemistry, Firearms, Latent Print, Photography/Digital Media, Toxicology, and Trace Evidence, as well as areas such as International accreditation, laboratory management, process mapping, auditing, and laboratory inspections/assessments. This program will directly improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science services provided to the law enforcement community of Missouri by increasing examiner proficiency, competency, knowledge, skills, and abilities. This program involves all of Missouri's crime laboratories - those operated by units of local government and those operated by the State - and will be administered by Missouri's State Administering Agency- the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

nca/ncf.