Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (Coverdell)
The Department of the Attorney General, Grants & Planning Branch, is the State Administrating Agency (SAA) for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program – Formula (Coverdell) grant funds in Hawaii. The State of Hawaii has received Coverdell funding to support the State of Hawaii and units of local government in the improvement of the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services. In addition, these funds are intended to eliminate backlogs in the analysis of forensic evidence, including controlled substances, firearms examination, forensic pathology, latent prints, questioned documents, toxicology, and trace evidence. The program permits funding for expenses related to facilities, personnel, computerization, equipment, supplies, accreditation, certification, education, and training. Any forensic laboratory, forensic laboratory system, medical examiner’s office, or coroner’s office that will receive any portion of a Coverdell grant must use generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures as established by accrediting organizations or appropriate certifying bodies.
PAUL COVERDELL PURPOSE AREAS
When applying for Paul Coverdell funds, applicants must address one of the following Paul Coverdell Purpose Areas in their description:
- Improve Quality and Timeliness: To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner’s office services in the State, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the State and those operated by units of local government within the State.
- Eliminate Backlog: To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence.
- Train, Employ and Assist: To train, employ, and assist forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators as needed to eliminate such a backlog.
- Address Emerging Forensic Issues and Technology: To address emerging forensic science issues (such as statistics, contextual bias, and uncertainty of measurement) and emerging forensic science technology (such as high throughput automation, statistical software, and new types of instrumentation).
- Educate and Train Pathologists: To educate and train forensic pathologists.
- Facilitate Accreditation: To fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
State and local government agencies that are accredited laboratories or can achieve accreditation within two years of grant award.
APPLICATION AND AWARDS
Below is the application for the State of Hawaii – FY 2018 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program application and a list of the FY 2018 Paul Coverdell sub-grantee awards.
FY 2018 Paul Coverdell State Application
| FY 2018 PAUL COVERDELL SUB-GRANTEE AWARDS | ||
| Agency Awarded | Title of Application | Award |
| Maui Police Department | Crime Lab Accreditation |
$37,472 |
| Honolulu Police Department | SIS Continuing Education |
$38,721 |
| Hawaii Police Department | Ka Hoa o Palekana |
$63,793 |
| Kauai Police Department | Opioid Field Investigation Safety |
$92,652 |
| Department of Public Safety | Improvement Quality Forensic Sciences |
$29,056 |
STRATEGIC PLAN
The Paul Coverdell award notes that the state application must specifically describe the manner in which Paul Coverdell grant funds will be used to carry out the state plan to improve the quality and/or timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner’s office services over current operations. Below is the Statewide Forensic Science Strategic Plan for FY 2015 – 2019 and the Paul Coverdell Consolidated State Plan for 2015 – 2019.
- Statewide Forensic Science Strategic Plan FY 2015 – FY 2019
- Paul Coverdell Consolidated State Plan for Forensic Science Laboratories FY 2015 – 2019
The Statewide Forensic Science Group is currently working on completing the FY 2020 – 2024 Plan.
RELATED TRAININGS & EVENTS
- Statewide Forensic Science Meeting – May 17, 2019
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Coverdell recipients are required to submit the following reports:
Program Reporting
- Project Self Assessment (PSA) – DUE 7 days after contract execution
- NEPA Environmental Assessment – DUE upon receiving an award letter
- Coverdell Semi-Annual Progress Report – DUE every six months (July 15th and January 15th)
Fiscal Reporting
- Request for Funds (RFF) Report on a monthly basis – DUE to CPJAD office by the 15th of every month
- Project Expenditures & Obligations Report (PEO) on a quarterly basis – DUE to CPJAD office by the 15th every quarter (April 15th, July 15th, October 15th and January 15th)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PAUL COVERDELL FORMS
- Coverdell Semi-Annual Progress Report Form
- Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the NIJ Grants Program
- Fillable NIJ NEPA Grants Program Checklist
PAUL COVERDELL INFORMATION LINKS
- National Institute of Justice (NIJ) – Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program
- DOJ Grants Financial Guide
- AG_CPJAD #26 Acceptance of FY 2018 Coverdell Special Conditions (03_2019)
PAUL COVERDELL STATUTORY CERTIFICATIONS