Fiscal Year 2011 Report on the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program

• NCJ Number: 238141
• Date Published: March 2012
• Length: 3 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic); Program/Project Description

Annotation

This report presents data and information for fiscal year (FY) 2011 on the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (PCFSIG) Program, which provides funding to States and units of local government in order to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical-examiner services.

Abstract

The PCFSIG Program is managed by the Office of Justice Programs' National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Applications for competitive funding are reviewed by an independent panel composed of subject-matter experts from the forensic science community. The panelists review and rate the applications individually based on how well each project meets the specific evaluation criteria cited in the solicitation. On April 6, 2010, NIJ released the solicitation for grant applications for the FY 2011 PCFSIG Program. NIJ received 222 applications; 28 States applied for base funding, and 25 States applied for a combination of base and competitive funding. The remaining 169 applications were received from units of local government for competitive funding. Thirty-nine applications were denied for various reasons. NIJ made 106 awards for $27,643,760; 49 States received base awards; 4 States received combination base and competitive awards, and 53 units of local government received competitive awards. Although NIJ was able to maintain the maximum competitive award of $175,000 in FY 2011, reduced funding significantly impacted funding for base awards. As a result of a 17-percent decrease in funding from FY 2010 to FY 2011, minimum base awards to States and Territories fell from $199,728 to $166,108. Some likely impacts of such reduced funding are noted. This electronic document provides portals to online information on PCFSIG Program funding, publications, events, training, multimedia, a NIJ profile, NIJ contact information, and subscriptions for NIJ publications.