For years, the forensic industry has struggled to receive adequate funding necessary to keep labs functioning at the highest levels possible. With on going budgetary constraints, crime labs struggle to meet their funding needs to help ease mounting issues: DNA backlog reduction, hiring/training additional staff, as well as purchasing new equipment or replacing outdated older equipment. Federal funding sources continue to provide the necessary funds to fulfill some of the labs budgetary needs.
Two resourceful websites which provide a list of federal grant sources as they become available each year are Grants.gov and National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
Recently released, the 2015 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program “awards grants to states and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. State Administering Agencies (SAAs) may apply for both “base” (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds.” (Source: NIJ.gov)