2015 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Program for Louisiana

The proposed 2015 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. 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 execute sub-awards with 2015 grant funds to six (6) regional forensic laboratories, one (1) Coroner's Office and the Louisiana State Police Crime lab. These funds will be used for specific objectives supporting the above stated goal. Funds will be allocated for overtime, travel and training expenses, equipment and supply purchases and equipment maintenance agreements. 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 NIJ. 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. In addition, the Louisiana Coverdell Program will continue to place special emphasis on allegations of serious negligence or serious misconduct should any become known to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement as well as follow-up on the status of the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office. A mechanism currently exists for an external entity (Louisiana Department of Justice, Attorney General's Office), to investigate any such allegations.

nca/ncf.