COMBINING EXPERTISE FOR EFFECTIVE JUSTICE
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) provides federal funding through multiple forensic science programs to combat violent crime, resolve cases, lower recidivism, increase public safety, and enhance justice. In collaboration with BJA, the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Program, led by RTI International, offers a team of subject matter experts who provide expertise and assistance to grantees in support of BJA’s overall mission to strengthen America’s criminal justice system.
Congratulations and welcome to all BJA Forensics Programs FY24 Grantees!
The 2nd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting archive is now available!
The event archive, which includes recorded sessions, PDFs of slide decks, and accompanying resources, is now available for on-demand viewing.
Save the Date for the 3rd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Meeting!
The 3rd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Meeting will be held virtually and is tentatively scheduled for June 9-10, 2025! These dates remain tentative until official conference approval is received, at which time additional information including an event agenda will be made available.
KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
- More than 1.6 million cases completed
- More than 3.9 million database samples completed
- More than 706,000 forensic (crime scene) profiles uploaded to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
- More than 3.7 million databasing profiles uploaded to CODIS
- More than 341,000 CODIS hits
Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Since its inception in 2022, MUHR Program funds were used to:
- Make 24 identifications via Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) associations
- Make 13 identifications via direct DNA comparisons
- Make 21 identifications via other methodologies such as fingerprints
- Repatriate 39 cases to relatives or next of kin
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
From FY2011-FY2021 Coverdell Program funds were used to:
- Analyze more than 1.8 million backlogged cases resulting in more than 350 agencies decreasing their backlogged cases
- Support more than 19,000 forensic personnel, more than 2,000 medical examiners/coroners, and more than 40 pathologists (FY2021 only) to attend training
- Help more than 400 agencies improve their timeliness in case analysis
- Enable more than 20 agencies obtain initial accreditation between FY2017-FY2021
- Assist more than 40 forensic personnel complete certification in FY2021
- Identify the presence of controlled substances in more than 85% of seized drug cases tested in FY2021
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
- More than 55,000 new cases reviewed and more than 125,000 continuing cases reviewed with current and previous grant funding
- More than 740,000 hours of case review performed, representing an estimate of more than 350 work years
- More than 2,200 cases where DNA analysis was performed
- More than 350 profiles uploaded to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and more than 100 CODIS hits
- 65 exonerations have resulted from this program representing more than 1,200 years served in prison
Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
Since 2019, COLD Program funds were used to:
- Upload multiple suspect profiles to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS/AFIS)
- Identify 94 suspects who were initially unknown
- Prosecute 20 cases that have resulted in convictions
- Identify 39 suspects via Forensic Genetic Genealogy work
- Charge or indict 66 cases
- Resolve 83 cold cases
Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
Fellowship/Purpose Area 1:
- 64 fellowships funded
- 49 participants completed fellowship training
- 11,798 deaths investigated by fellows
- 12,893 autopsies performed by fellows
Accreditation/Purpose Area 2:
- 148 individuals sought certification
- 31 individuals achieved certification
- 15 organizations achieved accreditation
PROGRAMS
DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
The CEBR Program provides federal funding for publicly funded accredited forensic DNA laboratories to process, and increase capacity to process, eligible samples for entry into the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
The MUHR Program provides federal funding to eligible entities so they can improve reporting, transportation, forensic testing, and identification of missing persons and unidentified human remains in the United States, including migrants.
Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program
The Coverdell Program provides federal funding for states and local government units to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner (ME/C) services.
Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program
The Postconviction Program provides federal funding for states and local government units to defray the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing in cases of violent felony offenses (as defined by state law) in which actual innocence might be demonstrated.
Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program
The COLD Program provides federal funding for agencies to resolve violent cold case crimes by providing them with resources to investigate and prosecute cases where a suspect’s DNA profile has been generated.
Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program
The ME/C Program provides federal funding to help address medicolegal death investigation (MDI) workforce needs to increase the number of practicing board-certified forensic pathologists and to support ME/C offices’ needs to implement and follow quality standards and performance criteria in an effort to provide a consistent and equitable application of MDI services.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Today is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This day came into recognition after 21-year-old Hanna Harris went missing and was later found murdered in the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in July 2013. We honor the lives of all American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and girls who have been subjected to undue violence, and we seek justice for them and the indigenous communities that have been impacted as a result. Learn more about this day: ow.ly/Jy0j50VF9Gi
May is National Missing and Unidentified Persons Month, where we recognize and acknowledge the hundreds of thousands of people who are reported missing in the United States each year. We also recognize and appreciate the work being done at the local, state, and federal level to locate and identify missing and unidentified individuals, resolve cases, and bring resolution to families. Today, we highlight the BJA’s Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program. This program provides funding for agencies to report, transport, and identify missing persons and unidentified human remains. Learn more about the purpose of this program here: ow.ly/syCT50VF9nM
Today is Denim Day. This day takes place every year on the last Wednesday of April to stand in solidarity with sexual assault survivors and to affirm that what happened to them was not their fault. Learn more about Denim Day and other ways to get involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) from the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization: ow.ly/5EVU50Vq3ab
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FORENSICS TTA PROGRAM updates
The Forensics TTA Team wants to hear from you!
If BJA Forensics Programs funding has played a role in your organization’s success, no matter how small or how large, we would love to hear about it! Please share your achievements with the Forensics TTA Team by clicking the ‘Submit Highlight’ button.