Arapahoe County staff seek approval to apply for $637,495 in lab grants
The applications would support forensic equipment, DNA testing and overtime. Staff say losing grant-funded overtime could slow DNA backlog reduction and case reporting.
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Arapahoe County staff are seeking county commissioners’ approval to apply for four federal grants totaling about $637,495 for forensic laboratory equipment, DNA testing and analyst overtime.
The requests are scheduled for discussion at the commissioners’ Oct. 27 study session, the county agenda shows. The Unified Forensic Laboratory serves the Aurora Police Department and the Arapahoe and Douglas county sheriff’s offices.
Two of the applications include analyst overtime. Staff say overtime helps keep DNA reports moving while experienced analysts train new employees; without continued grant funding, backlog reduction and case reporting could slow. The three partner agencies do not authorize overtime spending for lab staff, the county report says.
One request, for about $50,000 through the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Formula Grants Program, would replace aging latent-print light-source equipment with an investigation laser. Staff say it could add imaging capabilities and reduce some chemical processing of evidence. The request also includes analyst overtime and training, according to the county.
A separate Coverdell competitive grant application seeks $287,917 for two instruments: one to image bullets, bullet fragments and other firearms evidence, and another to analyze seized drugs. The request includes costs to validate and implement the equipment, the county report says.
The lab is also seeking $149,578 through the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction competitive program for equipment intended to speed differential DNA extraction, used primarily for sexual-assault evidence kits, and the validation work needed before using it in casework, staff’s application report says.
The fourth request, for $150,000 through the DNA backlog program’s formula grant, would pay for analyst overtime, training and maintenance of DNA-statistics software, the county report says.
The four U.S. Department of Justice solicitations were open as of Oct. 24, with application deadlines from Oct. 29 through Nov. 10: Coverdell formula, Coverdell competitive, DNA backlog competitive and DNA backlog formula. Awards could cover some or all of a request, depending on review and available funds, according to the county reports.