To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Tyler Brown, Sheriff
Prepared By:
prepared
Kimberly Morrow, Laboratory Director, Unified Forensic Laboratory
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presenter
Presenter:
Kimberly Morrow, Laboratory Director, Unified Forensic Laboratory
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Subject:
title
Grant Opportunity: BJA FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Formula Grants Program
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
We are seeking approval from the BOCC to apply for the 2026 Coverdell Formula Grants Program. If awarded, the grant will support the Unified Forensic Laboratory (UFL) through the purchase of new instrumentation to increase the available technology in the Latent Print Unit, as well as provide training and overtime funding for staff at the UFL. Grant award amounts vary from partial to full funding based on application evaluation and available funds.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Safe and Healthy Communities - Advance public safety by strengthening partnerships across law enforcement, emergency response, and community stakeholders.
Background and Discussion: Forensic science continues to advance at a dramatic rate and continues to be a crucial part of the judicial system. The UFL is seeking funds to provide overtime and training for our analysts, as well as purchase an advanced laser for the detection and retention of latent prints. This instrumentation will not only help replace current light source instrumentation that is at end-of-life, but also provide additional imaging capabilities. The purchase of the Arrowhead Forensics Dual 77 Investigation Laser will increase the UFL’s capability of non-destructive latent print processing, reducing the needs for some chemical staining and rinse protocols. This technology will increase not only the efficiency of laboratory processing but also decrease the handling of items going for additional downstream testing, such as seized drugs or DNA.
Overtime funding will be used to aid timely rele...
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