The Research and Evaluation for the Testing and Interpretation of Physical Evidence in Publicly Funded Forensic Laboratories (Public Labs) program’s intent is to fund research and evaluation studies that produce practical knowledge that has potential to improve the examination and interpretation of physical evidence for criminal justice purposes. Projects should take into consideration efficiency, accuracy, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of methods and technology that may need improvement.
With this program, NIJ typically seeks applications for research and evaluation projects that will:
- Identify and inform the forensic community of best practices through the evaluation of existing and emerging laboratory protocols.
- Have a direct and immediate impact on laboratory efficiency and assist in making laboratory policy decisions.
When applying for an award under this program, please carefully read the specific notice of funding opportunity as requirements may changes from year to year.
Program Overview
The Public Labs program is specifically targeted toward applicants from publicly funded laboratories and has the following objectives:
- Assessing existing laboratory protocols.
- Improve understanding of the scientific rationales underpinning existing laboratory processes.
- Evaluating emerging methods.
- Assess the implementation and value of emerging laboratory processes.
Eligibility
Applicants must be, or be partnered with, publicly funded forensic science laboratories that are currently accredited by an independent accrediting or certifying forensic science organization. Publicly funded forensic science laboratories include state, regional, county, municipal, and tribal agencies.
Funding History
The figures below shows the total number and value of awards by fiscal year and the disciplines in which awards have been funded. See the list below for links to information on that year's program and a list of the awards (no awards were made in fiscal year 2017).
Figure 1: Award Number and Total Value by Fiscal Year
Figure 2: Percent of Awards by Forensic Discipline
Links to awards made by fiscal year: