The Consortium of Forensic Science Organization (CFSO) released a statement over a year ago applauding the creation of a National Academy of Sciences committee to study the current state of forensic science in the United States. The CFSO also believes there is a severe lack of funding in the forensic field. A recent crime lab workload survey revealed forensic evidence backlogs exist in all areas of forensics including firearms, trace evidence, DNA, toxicology and pattern analysis like fingerprinting.

One of the biggest challenges facing crime labs and medical examiners offices is keeping facilities up-to-date with equipment and enough staff while working with limited funding. The development of forensic science and funding seems to be highlighted in the President's DNA funding initiative in his 2006 budget. This initiative provides funding, training and assistance to ensure that forensic DNA reaches its full potential to solve crimes, protect the innocent and identify missing persons. Congress modified the budget to provide funding for other forensic disciplines including $108.5 million designated for DNA testing and $18.5 million in grants for the Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Act. DNA testing is only a small portion of the work done in crime labs, and grants from the Coverdell funding provide crime labs and medical examiner's offices the ability to spend money where each lab has the largest backlog or case log. The CFSO also maintained that forensic providers should determine their own needs, and put federal money to work where it needs the most support. The bill included $1.5 million for the National Academy of Sciences to conduct this study.


Funding is made available periodically through solicitations from the Initiative's Partners and announced online at www.dna.gov/funding.com

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