Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Criminal Justice
Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act (NFSIA)
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) supports forensic programs to assist state, county or municipal forensic crime laboratories, county district attorneys, medical examiners and county coroner’s improve the quality, timeliness and credibility of forensic science services to the criminal justice system. PCCD leverage funds to support these through limited Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act (NFSIA) funds administered by PCCD.
The Coverdell program is administered by the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance and is designed to improve the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science services for criminal justice purposes. In general, NFSIA provides funding to crime laboratories and medical examiners’ offices through the State Administrating Agency, like PCCD based on population and crime statistics.
The program permits funding for expenses related to facilities, personnel, computerization, equipment, supplies, accreditation, certification, education, and training. NFSIA requires that states receiving a grant under the program use the award to carry out all or a substantial part of a program to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services in the state. Included are those services provided by laboratories or medical examiners’ offices operated by the state and those operated by units of local government within the state.
The goal of this PCCD initiative is to assist agencies in the improvement of forensic science operations. In order to reach this goal, the following objectives must be met:
- Reduction in the number of days between submission of a sample to a forensic science laboratory and delivery of test results to a requesting office or agency.
- Reduction in the number of backlogged forensic cases.
- Increase in the number of forensic science or medical examiner personnel who attend appropriate training or educational opportunities.
PA Sexual Offender Management
Welcome to the PA Sexual Offender Management site.
On December 20, 2011, Governor Corbett signed a bill to bring Pennsylvania into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. This site is committed to providing stakeholders with pertinent information on Pennsylvania’s efforts to comply with this Act. The major portions of this Act must be implemented by December 2012.
As we move forward toward implementation of this Act, the information on this site will be enhanced and provided to stakeholders as it becomes available.
For technical assistance with PA SORT, please contact the PSP help desk at 877-777-3375. **Content Last Updated 1/2/2013** ***"This website is for informational purposes only. Should you have a question re-garding a specific statute, please seek the advice of counsel for your agency."***