# Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program (16.742)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/16-742-paul-coverdell-forensic-sciences-improvement-grant-program/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program is run by Department of Justice. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $137 million in 349 grants, about $393,477 per award.

## Objectives

Program goal(s) name: Improve forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services.
Program goal(s) description: Demonstrate improvement over current operations in forensic science or medical examiner/coroner services, including services provided by laboratories. Reduction in forensic analysis backlogs is considered an improvement in timeliness of services.
Program objective(s) name: Educate forensic pathologists and eliminate backlogs.
Program objective(s) description: Educate and train forensic pathologists; eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence; train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog; and fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $21.3 million | 74 |
| 2022 | $58.8 million | 143 |
| 2023 | $30.7 million | 68 |
| 2024 | $28.1 million | 65 |
| 2025 | -$1.5 million | 0 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Emergency Services | California | $9.2 million |
| Texas Office of the Governor | Texas | $8.7 million |
| Florida Department of Law Enforcement | Florida | $7.3 million |
| New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services | New York | $5.4 million |
| Crime & Delinquency Pa Commission on | Pennsylvania | $3.7 million |
| Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority | Illinois | $3.6 million |
| Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services | Ohio | $3.5 million |
| Criminal Justice Coordinating Council | Georgia | $3.2 million |
| Department of State Police Michigan | Michigan | $3.1 million |
| North Carolina Department of Public Safety | North Carolina | $3.0 million |
| New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety | New Jersey | $2.7 million |
| State Police Department | Massachusetts | $2.6 million |
| Washington State Patrol | Washington | $2.2 million |
| Department of Criminal Justice Services Virginia | Virginia | $2.2 million |
| Arizona Criminal Justice Commission | Arizona | $2.2 million |
| Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration | Tennessee | $2.0 million |
| State Police Oregon Department | Oregon | $2.0 million |
| Judiciary Courts of the State of Indiana | Indiana | $2.0 million |
| Department of Justice Wisconsin | Wisconsin | $1.9 million |
| Executive Office of the State of Maryland | Maryland | $1.8 million |

## Open opportunities

- [BJA FY26 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Formula Grants Program](https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/o-bja-2026-172759-bja-fy26-paul-coverdell-forensic-science-improvement-formula/), closes November 10, 2026