The National Institute of Justice has awarded a $6 million grant to RTI International and its partners to form a new Forensic Science Technology Center of Excellence in Research Triangle Park.
RTI International states that it will work to increase the capabilities of state and local criminal justice agencies to effectively and professionally serve the public in matters involving forensic science technology. The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Duquesne University Center for Forensic Science and Law, and Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Forensic Science will work with RTI International as partners in this project.
The project will include training and outreach as well as testing, evaluation, technology assistance for use by crime laboratories. Click here for the announcement of the project. I will post additional information about how the Center of Excellence will improve capacities of state and local crime laboratories as specific projects are announced.
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) provides testing, evaluation, technology transition assistance, and other services for use by crime laboratories, forensic service providers, law enforcement, and other criminal justice agencies whose mission is to combat crime.
A CoE can help standardize on a limited number of quality products, centralize testing resources, eliminate redundancies and increase efficiency across projects.