PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

To get a grant, a State or local government must send the Attorney General a set of papers that show four things. First, it has a plan for its forensic labs and a clear explanation of how the grant money will be used to carry out that plan. Second, any lab, medical examiner, or coroner getting money uses accepted lab practices and is accredited by an internationally recognized accreditor, or will use part of the grant to prepare and apply for that accreditation within 2 years of the grant award. Third, it gives details and a cost estimate for any new facility and promises the money spent on the facility will not exceed the legal limit. Fourth, it certifies that an independent outside process exists to investigate serious negligence or misconduct that could affect forensic results.

Title 34, §10562

Navy, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

To request a grant under this subchapter, a State or unit of local government shall submit to the Attorney General—

(1)a certification that the State or unit of local government has developed a plan for forensic science laboratories under a program described in section 10564(a) of this title, and a specific description of the manner in which the grant will be used to carry out that plan;

(2)a certification that any forensic science laboratory system, medical examiner’s office, or coroner’s office in the State, including any laboratory operated by a unit of local government within the State, that will receive any portion of the grant amount uses generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures, established by accrediting organizations or appropriate certifying bodies and, except with regard to any medical examiner’s office, or coroner’s office in the State, is accredited by an accrediting body that is a signatory to an internationally recognized arrangement and that offers accreditation to forensic science conformity assessment bodies using an accreditation standard that is recognized by that internationally recognized arrangement, or attests, in a manner that is legally binding and enforceable, to use a portion of the grant amount to prepare and apply for such accreditation not more than 2 years after the date on which a grant is awarded under section 10561 of this title;

(3)a specific description of any new facility to be constructed as part of the program for a State or local plan described in paragraph (1), and the estimated costs of that facility, and a certification that the amount of the grant used for the costs of the facility will not exceed the limitations set forth in section 10564(c) of this title; and

(4)a certification that a government entity exists and an appropriate process is in place to conduct independent external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct substantially affecting the integrity of the forensic results committed by employees or contractors of any forensic laboratory system, medical examiner’s office, coroner’s office, law enforcement storage facility, or medical facility in the State that will receive a portion of the grant amount.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 3797k of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Some section numbers or references in amendment notes below reflect the classification of such sections or references prior to editorial reclassification.

Amendments

2016—Par. (2). Pub. L. 114–324 inserted “and, except with regard to any medical examiner’s office, or coroner’s office in the State, is accredited by an accrediting body that is a signatory to an internationally recognized arrangement and that offers accreditation to forensic science conformity assessment bodies using an accreditation standard that is recognized by that internationally recognized arrangement, or attests, in a manner that is legally binding and enforceable, to use a portion of the grant amount to prepare and apply for such accreditation not more than 2 years after the date on which a grant is awarded under section 3797j of this title” after “bodies”. 2004—Par. (4). Pub. L. 108–405 added par. (4). 2002—Pub. L. 107–273, § 5001(b)(2)(A), inserted “or unit of local government” after “State” in introductory provisions. Par. (1). Pub. L. 107–273, § 5001(b)(2)(B), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “a certification that the State has developed a consolidated State plan for forensic science laboratories operated by the State or by other units of local government within the State under a program described in section 3797m(a) of this title, and a specific description of the manner in which the grant will be used to carry out that plan;”. Par. (2). Pub. L. 107–273, § 5001(b)(2)(C), inserted “or appropriate certifying bodies” after “accrediting organizations”. Par. (3). Pub. L. 107–273, § 5001(b)(2)(D), inserted “for a State or local plan” after “program”.

§10562 Applications

Summary

Title 34, §10562

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata