NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Strasser today announced $2,913,487 in Department of Justice grants to the Eastern District of Louisiana to fund crime laboratories, decrease DNA backlogs, support basic and applied forensic research, and help law enforcement identify missing persons. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of $192 million in funding to advance forensic science nationwide.
“Developments in forensic science have given investigators an extraordinary array of tools that can be enlisted to solve crimes and bring answers to victims and survivors, often after many years and even decades," said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These investments in crime-fighting technology, from DNA analysis to drug toxicology to forensic anthropology, will help identify and convict perpetrators, ensure justice for innocent victims and keep communities safe by deterring future criminal activity."
“Forensic technology is an integral component of law enforcement and the judicial system," said U.S. Attorney Strasser. “These awards will significantly increase the capacity for DNA analysis, decrease the backlog and turnaround time for DNA analysis and assists law enforcement agencies and crime labs in efficiently processing evidence to solve a greater number of crimes, including cold cases."
Since 2004, the Office of Justice Programs has received an annual appropriation for DNA and other forensic science activities. The funding, administered through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Justice, supports DNA analysis, laboratory capacity enhancement and forensic science research that provides knowledge and tools to improve the quality and practice of forensic science.
The following organizations received funding:
* St. Tammany Parrish Coroner’s Office $200,000
* Jefferson Parrish Sheriff’s Office $200,000
* Orleans Parish District Attorney $1,949,672
* Louisiana State Police $299,117
* Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement $264,698
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
