2015 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program-Washington State Application

Washington State's 2015 Paul Coverdell Grant application is focused on improving the practice of forensic science throughout the state. Grant funds will be used to the benefit of all the state's 6.8 million citizens. Specifically our goals are to: (1) Improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services within the state, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and those operated by units of the local government, and (2) Eliminate a backlog of missing and unidentified comparison reports in the WSP Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit. Our strategy will be to provide funding to: (1) WSP Crime Laboratory Division for enhancement and expansion of their Digital Image Management System to greatly improve the forensic capabilities of all crime laboratories in WSP Crime Laboratory Division; (2) WSP Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit (MUPU) for overtime compensation for the Program Specialist 2's, Forensic Odontologist, and training and professional developments to continue efforts towards the reduction of a massive backlog of missing and unidentified comparison reports; (3) Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office for replacement of lighting equipment at four autopsy stations to improve the quality and timeliness of medical examiner services in Pierce County; (4) Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office for updating· their digital dental X-ray software, sensor, and laptop to capture high quality digital dental X-rays images for decedent identification which will improve the quality of regional autopsy services in eastern Washington; and (5) Lewis County Coroner's. Office for a roller storage system and a hydraulic lifting table to greatly improve the efficiency and capability of 1 storing decedents in Lewis County.
Our grant proposal is submitted on behalf of the Washington State Forensic Investigations Council (FIC). The FIC is composed of individuals representing prosecuting attorneys, sheriffs and police chiefs, elected city and county officials, coroners, and public/private medical examiners. The outcomes that we anticipate are increases in timeliness, efficiency, and quality of forensic services provided in each of the Medical Examiner's and Coroner's offices receiving 1 grant funds. Additionally, we also anticipate improvement in the forensic capabilities of all crime laboratories in the WSP Crime Laboratory Division and continued reduction of a backlog of missing and unidentified comparison reports in the WSP Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit.

nca/ncf