Two microscopes joined by an optical bridge, for comparing bullets, casings and toolmarks side by side.
Equipment for any forensic discipline or medical examiner service. Administrative costs are capped at 10%.
Directly or through your state · 10 past awards named it
For NIBIN and crime gun evidence work, not general law enforcement operations.
Apply directly · 1 past award named it
Any project in one of JAG’s purpose areas, subject to BJA’s prohibited-expenditures list. Local awards are often small.
Directly or through your state · 1 past award named it
On FEMA’s equipment list (07BD-01-OPDT), but only fundable when it supports a terrorism-preparedness target. Requested through your state.
Through your state
A research grant: equipment only when the research needs it. Proposals built mainly around buying equipment aren’t eligible.
Apply directly · 1 past award named it
From each program’s funding notice. Programs for other kinds of work aren’t listed, and “ruled out” only appears where the notice says so. Check the current notice before you apply: the rules can change each year.
Your city or county can get this money straight from BJA if it is on this year's JAG allocations list, so check that first. It can pay for staff, equipment, supplies, training and information systems for criminal justice work, and it doesn't go through your state.
Money to improve forensic science and medical examiner or coroner services. Local government labs apply directly to the Bureau of Justice Assistance, state labs apply through their state administering agency, and applications are scored against each other.
Your state's administering agency applies for formula funds that flow down to your lab through your state's own process. Contact your state forensic science improvement coordinator early, since state deadlines typically come before the federal deadline. This is different from competitive funds, which labs apply for directly to the federal government.
13 awards to 9 recipients in 9 states named it in their own description. The median award was $295K, for the whole project, not just this item.
“The systems virtual comparison microscopy (vcm) software also allows examiners to make comparisons with digital images without needing the physical evidence.”
CRIME LABORATORY ARKANSAS · Coverdell · FY2025 · $243K
“In the past, the hamilton county coroner's office and crime laboratory's trace evidence sectionwas equipped with two comparison microscopes, allowing for ease of concurrent casework analysis and training.”
COUNTY OF HAMILTON, OHIO · Coverdell · FY2025 · $125K
“The sdfl would like to spend the funding to purchase a replacement comparison microscope in the firearms section to prepare for the new fte awarded to the sdfl through the state legislature.”
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OF SOUTH DAKOTA · Coverdell · FY2024 · $295K
“…funds will be used to fill an operations analyst’s position dedicated to the psn districts to assist in the prosecution of CGIC-qualified cases and purchase a comparison microscope to allow the cpd ballistics lab to prioritize gun cases from the psn districts and develop more timely NIBIN leads/bia alerts for investiga…”
CITY OF CHICAGO · CGIC · FY2022 · $700K
| Details | ||
|---|---|---|
| $243K | CRIME LABORATORY ARKANSASBJA FY25 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement- Competitive Grants Program | |
| $125K | COUNTY OF HAMILTON, OHIOBJA FY25 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement- Competitive Grants Program | |
| $295K | ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OF SOUTH DAKOTABJA FY24 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program- Formula | |
| $312K | CRIME LABORATORY ARKANSASBJA FY 23 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Competitive | |
| $240K | CRIME LABORATORY ARKANSASBJA FY 23 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Formula | |
| $700K | CITY OF CHICAGOBJA FY 22 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative | |
| $618K | NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETYBJA FY 22 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Formula | |
| $386K | COUNTY OF ALAMEDABJA FY 22 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Competitive | |
| $293K | ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OF SOUTH DAKOTABJA FY 22 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Formula |
Money a state received and passed on to a local agency.
| Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| $41K | BALTIMORE COUNTY MARYLAND | Jul 2025 | |
| $40K | CITY OF TULSA | Apr 2024 | |
| $60K | IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYUniversity or research institution | Jan 2024 | |
| $32K | BALTIMORE COUNTY MARYLAND | Oct 2023 |
Planned uses from each award’s filed description, not a record of what was bought. Open a row to read the full description. Sources: USAspending.gov and DOJ’s own award list, last three fiscal years and this one. Award Explorer →
FEMA’s Homeland Security grants can only buy items on this list, and only for terrorism preparedness. The full list →
Ask ForensicGrants knows these programs and your agency profile if you’re signed in. It can check a specific purchase against each notice and find similar awards.
