Fiscal Year 2015 Report on the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program

• NCJ Number: 250436
• Date Published: January 2016
• Length: 3 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic); Program/Project Description; Grants and Funding

Annotation

In compliance with a provision of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 as amended, this report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate presents the annual (fiscal year 2015) report on the Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program.

Abstract

This grants program, which is administered by the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice (NIJ), provides funding to States and units of local government for improving the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services, in accordance with the Coverdell Act. NIJ conducts the Coverdell Grants Program through a grant solicitation that has both a formula and a competitive component. Only States are eligible to apply for the formula component. States and local governments that provide forensic science or medical-examiner services may apply for the competitive funding. For FY 2015, NIJ received 173 applications under the Coverdell Grants Program; 35 States applied for base funding, and 21 States applied for a combination of base and competitive funding. The remaining 138 applications were received from units of local government for competitive funding. Thirty-three applications were denied for various reasons. NIJ made 71 awards totaling $10,617,553; 49 States received base awards; 2 States received a combination of base and competitive awards; and 20 units of local government received competitive awards. Since its inception the Coverdell Program has resulted in 1,144 grants to States and units of local government. NIJ monitors each award to ensure the grantee's compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and policies. A list provides the names of each grantee for FY 2015, the grant number, the award amount, and the State.